Funeral of boy (16) who died in drowning tragedy in Donegal hears how he ‘touched every heart'

Irish Independent

17-05-2025

Emmanuel Familola (16) and Matt Sibanda (18) died after getting into difficulty in the water at Ned's Point, Buncrana, last Saturday afternoon.
The young boys were playing football on the shoreline and had entered the water to retrieve the ball when the tragedy unfolded.
Emmanuel was taken from the water and transferred to Letterkenny University Hospital but sadly passed away during the early hours of Sunday morning.
A widespread search involving around 60 rescue personnel was carried out in front of the Buncrana shoreline on Saturday evening and the body of Matt Sibanda was recovered from the water after 9pm.
A large crowd gathered for the funeral mass of Emmanuel on Saturday morning at St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana.
A guard of honour was performed by pupils of Emmanuel's school, Scoil Mhuire, as his devastated family and friends made their way into the church.
The service began with the Safe Haven choir singing 'Amazing Grace' while there was also music throughout the service by Scoil Mhuire's choir.
Among the mourners were Emmanuel's mother Glory, his younger brothers Daniel and John, his wider family circle and friends from the Sailor's Rest in Buncrana, local councillors, representatives from emergency services and the Safe Haven Christian community.
Commandant Joe Glennon, Aide de Camp to An Taoiseach, represented Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris, and his Chaplain, Father Daniel McFaul, were also in attendance.
At the beginning of the mass, symbols representing Emmanuel's life were brought forward to the alter and placed close to the white coffin.
Ruth Garvey Williams brought forward a collage of photos from Emmanuel's recent work experience at the Department of Foreign Affairs, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Emmanuel's brothers, Daniel and John, brought forward his Manchester City shirt – a team he supported and loved – and his bible, as he was a person of deep faith.
A Certificate that Emmanuel was due to receive last Monday on his completion of his time recently at the Department of Foreign Affairs was also presented.
Tony Joel, a neighbour of the Familola family in Nigeria, thanked the community of Buncrana and Inishowen for the support the family received since the tragedy.
'On behalf of the African Community in Donegal, the African community in Derry and the African community in Ireland, and on behalf of Glory Familola and the Familola family back home in Nigeria, we want to say thank you to the Irish people.
'From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the people from Buncrana, from Inishowen and from Donegal for being there for us from the moment this tragedy happened.
'Thank you to the RNLI, all the emergency services and the hospital staff at Letterkenny General Hospital who tried so hard to save Emmanuel.
'We cannot thank you enough for the unity and love you have given to this family and for supporting us all in this hard time.
'May Almighty God continue to bless this country, continue to bless this community and every family here. Thank you,' said Mr Joel.
The funeral mass was led by Buncrana Parish Priest, Fr Francis Bradley, and concelebrated by Fr Cajetan Apeh, from Nigeria.
During the homily, Fr Bradley said tragedy occurred when the young boys were playing on the shore and the ball went into the water.
'They appear to have been doing what young boys would – playing football and going into the water to retrieve the ball.
'Despite constant warnings, how were they really to know the real power and danger of the water, the destructive currents and forces which lay beneath the otherwise picture-perfect sea on a surreal afternoon; could any of us say we wouldn't go into the water and risk it a little to make sure the fun would continue.
'None of us can judge the actions which led to such a calamitous tragedy.
'If hindsight were foresight, we'd all have insight.
'Even Lough Swilly itself has another name – the Lake of Shadows, for the more you see of it, the more you realise how the light reflects differently on different parts of the water, at different times, and the result is a constantly changing landscape and mood on the water.
'Although the sun has been bright in the sky these days, the gloomy and foreboding shadow of death has hung over us all on the banks of this lovely lake.
'Again, the name conveys even the mood of our broken hearts.
'It is distressingly difficult for all of us to come to terms with this tragedy,' said Fr Bradley.
Fr Bradley also paid tribute to the emergency services who worked tirelessly to rescue the two teenagers.
'The difficulty must be unbearable for those who did their best to save Emmanuel and Matt – the search crews from the RNLI and the coastguard, the flotilla of yachts who combed the lake, and most especially, Ottman and Mohammed, their friends who spent themselves in doing their very best for them,' said Fr Bradley.
Emmanuel was remembered as a young man who brought a wealth of joy and peace to his mother and his family's heart and someone who, gently but effectively helped to guide, protect, and feed others in their needs.
'Not only was Emmanuel his mother's first-born son, but he was the eldest grandchild in his family circle too.
'He was precious, but not in the first world sense of being overly sensitive to his own needs or snappy and impolite; in fact, totally to the contrary; for it was he who looked out for other's needs.
"He was endlessly patient and kind, and so, so respectful; such an attractive personality given the plethora of gifts and talents he possessed, and every one of them carried with gentle ease and good humour,' said Fr Bradley.
The congregation heard of Emmanuel's kind nature as he would help the more vulnerable kids in school who were 'drawn to his fun-loving heart, his warm smile, his sharp wit, and his great charisma.'
'In Emmanuel, they found the shelter they needed amid the storms of life and living.
'He will be missed by so very many of his friends and contemporaries.
'He was a credit to his mother, his brothers, his family and his country; a true ambassador of hope, a witness to how we should never let the harsh experiences of life define us, but rather, that we must allow them to deepen our resolve and refocus our vision on being the person God himself has called us to be,' said Fr Bradley.
The large congregation heard Emmanuel was an excellent student who always gave his best.
'Emmanuel distinguished himself by his devotion of heart, by his courtesy, calmness and sense of gratitude for anything and everything he was given.
'He had a serene magnetism to him which crossed social, ethnic and cultural boundaries for his warmth and charisma spoke every language, touched every heart,' said Fr Bradley.
Prayers of the faithful were said for the emergency services who assisted at the incident, for Emmanuel's family in Buncrana and Nigeria, and for the local community.
Emmanuel's remains were taken from the church to nearby Cockhill Cemetery for burial.