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The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Drowning of two teenagers remains an ‘open wound', funeral is told
The drowning of two teenagers off the coast of Co Donegal remains an 'open wound', a priest has said. The funeral of Matt Sibanda heard that the 18-year-old was 'undeniably wise and good beyond his years'. Matt, originally from Zimbabwe, died in the incident earlier this month along with Emmanuel Familola, 16, originally from Nigeria. They had been playing football when they went into the sea after a ball and got into difficulty. Matt's body was recovered from Lough Swilly while Emmanuel was rescued and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital, where he died. Both teenagers had been living with their families in separate international protection centres in Buncrana. Buncrana Parish Priest Father Francis Bradley told the funeral at St Mary's Oratory on Saturday that members of Matt's family had travelled to Ireland for the funeral to support his mother Bonnie. He said: 'Over the past three weeks there has been a lot of visiting going on locally. 'Especially in the light of the tragic events, the tragic deaths of Matt Sibanda and his good friend Emmanuel Familola. 'The events of the afternoon of May 10 last will remain with us for a long time. 'While some distance has been drawn now from those terrible moments, the loss of Matt and Emmanuel is still an open wound, a sore blow for all of us, but most especially for their grieving families. 'We are all struggling still to come to terms with the loss, still speechless at the suddenness of it, still heartbroken at the enormity of it. 'While the world has moved on in some respects, we are nevertheless still numbed by the sadness of what happened.' He added: 'From his earliest days in Zimbabwe through to his time here in Buncrana, Matt has always been recognised for his quiet but sociable presence, his smiling face and his great ability to always listen and respond with a deeply respectful and generous heart. 'In the building which became his home since his arrival here in late 2023, Matt was the eldest child and with his great gifts and talents, particularly the respect he showed to everyone, but most especially to his mother, he became a natural leader, a first among equals. 'He was undeniably wise and good beyond his years with an ability to sit with other children reading, debating and learning with great enthusiasm, always curious to know a little more. 'His surname Sibanda means lion. Our new Pope has taken the name Leo, which also means lion. 'Both Leo and Matt Sibanda shared something important in common, as well as their Catholic faith, their ability to listen to all sides of the debate, never judging, but helping all sides to reach a better solution. 'All of this stemmed from a profound respect for his mother. He always listened to her and he never, ever spoke back to her, even once, throughout his 18 years. 'A man of few words, a good and kind boy, a humble kid.'
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Drowning of two teenagers remains an ‘open wound', funeral is told
The drowning of two teenagers off the coast of Co Donegal remains an 'open wound', a priest has said. The funeral of Matt Sibanda heard that the 18-year-old was 'undeniably wise and good beyond his years'. Advertisement Matt, originally from Zimbabwe, died in the incident earlier this month along with Emmanuel Familola, 16, originally from Nigeria. They had been playing football when they went into the sea after a ball and got into difficulty. Matt's body was recovered from Lough Swilly while Emmanuel was rescued and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital, where he died. Both teenagers had been living with their families in separate international protection centres in Buncrana. Advertisement Buncrana Parish Priest Father Francis Bradley told the funeral at St Mary's Oratory on Saturday that members of Matt's family had travelled to Ireland for the funeral to support his mother Bonnie. He said: 'Over the past three weeks there has been a lot of visiting going on locally. 'Especially in the light of the tragic events, the tragic deaths of Matt Sibanda and his good friend Emmanuel Familola. 'The events of the afternoon of May 10 last will remain with us for a long time. Advertisement 'While some distance has been drawn now from those terrible moments, the loss of Matt and Emmanuel is still an open wound, a sore blow for all of us, but most especially for their grieving families. 'We are all struggling still to come to terms with the loss, still speechless at the suddenness of it, still heartbroken at the enormity of it. 'While the world has moved on in some respects, we are nevertheless still numbed by the sadness of what happened.' He added: 'From his earliest days in Zimbabwe through to his time here in Buncrana, Matt has always been recognised for his quiet but sociable presence, his smiling face and his great ability to always listen and respond with a deeply respectful and generous heart. Advertisement 'In the building which became his home since his arrival here in late 2023, Matt was the eldest child and with his great gifts and talents, particularly the respect he showed to everyone, but most especially to his mother, he became a natural leader, a first among equals. 'He was undeniably wise and good beyond his years with an ability to sit with other children reading, debating and learning with great enthusiasm, always curious to know a little more. 'His surname Sibanda means lion. Our new Pope has taken the name Leo, which also means lion. 'Both Leo and Matt Sibanda shared something important in common, as well as their Catholic faith, their ability to listen to all sides of the debate, never judging, but helping all sides to reach a better solution. Advertisement 'All of this stemmed from a profound respect for his mother. He always listened to her and he never, ever spoke back to her, even once, throughout his 18 years. 'A man of few words, a good and kind boy, a humble kid.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Sibanda family's grief 'speaks to the human in all of us'
The funeral is due to take place later of the second teenager who died after getting into difficulty in the water in Buncrana earlier this month. Parish priest Father Francis Bradley said 18-year-old Matt Sibanda was much loved and admired, especially by his seven-year-old sister who he doted said the outpouring of grief after his death had happened because this kind of tragedy "speaks to the human in every one of us"."People know the pain of loss," he said. Matt's family will make a poignant visit to the scene of the tragedy on Saturday before the grandmother travelled from Zimbabwe with his two older siblings, a brother and sister in their twenties, to be there alongside Matt's mother and younger 18-year-old died along with his friend Emmanuel Familola, a native of Nigeria. They were playing football on the beach at Ned's Point and had gone into the water to retrieve a ball when they got into difficulty.A third boy made it back to the shore. Later that evening, the body of Matt Sibanda was recovered from Lough Familola was rescued and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital but passed away the following morning with his mother at his bedside. 'Devoted to his mother' Fr Bradley says Matt Sibanda's family are quietly trying to come to terms with the tragedy. "Matt's mum is a woman of few words but deep deep emotion and she talked to me so powerfully about what Matt meant to her," he told BBC News NI."His little sister is so full of life, she's a gift from above really, telling me she speaks four languages. She's better in Irish than I am sharing her lovely phrases with me in Irish that she has learnt in school and they are all just telling me about what Matt meant to them. "The way he would watch over his little sister teaching her to ride a bicycle. How he was so devoted to his mother. She said she could put her hand on the Bible and say that he never once disobeyed her."Can you imagine what it means to her then to lose somebody as special as this."Fr Bradley said the family members had made a special journey to the scene of the tragedy."It has been so important for them to see where he died."A little ritual took place there by the pier with his grandmother as the head of the family. It was so important that she come for a little gesture so they could, in their terms, release his soul allowing him to go to heaven." 'Gifted in so many ways' Fr Bradley said he was a "gifted boy in so many ways," of whom classmates and peers speak glowingly. "And not just in the way that people might speak of people after they die but just a real sense of his giftedness. "Someone who looked not to their own needs but who looked to the needs of others."Fr Bradley said Matt was hugely important to his family as he was the one in which they placed their hopes. The support from the Buncrana community for both families had been overwhelming, according to Fr Bradley. "It's not a flash in the sky coming together. It's a real sense of loss. So many families here unfortunately, as throughout the country, have suffered losses similar to this. "Even since Matt and Emmanuel passed away another child just down the road in Sligo died in similar circumstances. So people know the pain of loss. "These are the sorts of tragedies that cross all cultural, political, jurisdictional boundaries because they speak to the human in every one of us."And it's at that human level that there has been an outpouring of grief. It is something natural and wholesome and it something that will endure."
The Independent
17-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Teenager who died in Buncrana tragedy remembered for charisma and warmth
A teenager who died in a drowning in Co Donegal has been remembered for his warmth and charisma. Emmanuel Familola, 16, originally from Nigeria, died last weekend. A funeral service at St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana on Saturday morning heard he was a much-loved first-born son and had recently completed work experience at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin. Buncrana Parish Priest Father Francis Bradley described Emmanuel as an 'excellent student who always gave his best'. '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,' he told mourners. Commandant Joe Glennon, aide de camp to Taoiseach Micheal Martin, was among those in attendance, also representing Tanaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Harris. Emmanuel, along with Matt Sibanda, 18, originally from Zimbabwe, died in the incident last weekend. They had been playing football on Saturday when they went into the sea after a ball and got into difficulty. Matt's body was recovered from Lough Swilly on Saturday evening while Emmanuel was rescued and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital, but died in the early hours of Sunday. A vigil was held in their memory in Buncrana on Sunday evening and another vigil was held on Monday evening in Londonderry. Both teenagers had been living with their families in separate international protection centres in Buncrana. Schoolchildren from the Co Donegal town formed a guard of honour at St Mary's Oratory in the town on Saturday morning ahead of the funeral service for Emmanuel. Speaking ahead of the service, Father Bradley said it was a profoundly sad day. 'This day last week, life changed for so many people unspeakably in just a few moments when tragedy struck again at Lough Swilly,' he said. 'Emmanuel was able way beyond his years because of all that he had experienced. 'He didn't allow the harsh things that he had seen to shape him, instead he saw those as opportunities to enable him and others to move on and to move up in the world.' The funeral mass for Matt will be held next week.
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Irish Times
Teenager who drowned off Donegal coast was ‘true ambassador of hope,' funeral hears
Emmanuel Familola was a 'true ambassador of hope' who had a 'serene magnetism' which 'crossed social, ethnic and cultural boundaries' to 'touch every heart', mourners at his funeral have been told. Parish priest Father Francis Bradley paid tribute to the 16-year-old's 'attractive personality' and the 'plethora of gifts and talents he possessed, and every one of them carried with gentle ease and good humour'. Emmanuel was, the priest said, someone who 'looked out for others' needs, was endlessly patient and kind, and so, so respectful. 'Perhaps without even being aware of it, he sought out the vulnerable kids in school, or more precisely they sought him out, drawn to his fun-loving heart, his warm smile, his sharp wit, and his great charisma. READ MORE 'In Emmanuel, they found the shelter they needed amid the storms of life and living.' Emmanuel died a week ago along with his friend, 18-year-old Matt Sibanda , after they went into the water in Lough Swilly, off Ned's Point in Buncrana, Co Donegal, to retrieve a football. Emmanuel Familola, 16, left, and 18-year-old Matt Sibanda Originally from Nigeria, he and his mother and younger brothers had been living in a centre for international protection applicants in Buncrana. His funeral Mass took place in St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana on Saturday morning. It was attended by many people from the asylum seeker and migrant communities in Buncrana and Co Donegal, as well as friends and neighbours from the town and from his football team, Buncrana Hearts FC, as well as from Nigeria. Also present were members of the emergency services, including the RNLI and coastguard, representatives from Donegal County Council including councillors Joy Beard and Jack Murray, and the Derry SDLP MLA Mark Durkan. [ 'They were Buncrana sons' – the Co Donegal lives and tragic deaths of two immigrant teenagers Opens in new window ] The Taoiseach and Tánaiste were represented by the Taoiseach's aide de camp, Commandant Joe Glennan. Billy Banda, the leader of the African community in Co Donegal, also attended, as did Fr Cajecan, a priest from Nigeria who lives in the Termonbacca Carmelite Monastery in Derry. In advance of the Requiem Mass, students from Emmanuel's school, Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana, accompanied by pupils from Matt's school, Crana College, formed a guard of honour outside the church. Mass began with the choir of the Safe Haven Christian community singing Amazing Grace. Students formed a guard of honour outside St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana, Co Donegal, for the funeral of teenager Emmanuel Familola on Saturday. Photograph: Joe Dunne Four of his friends from Scoil Mhuire brought up the gifts. Items carried to the altar to represent his life included a collage of photographs from Emmanuel's recent trip to the Department of Foreign Affairs for work experience and a certificate he had been due to receive on Monday to mark its successful completion. His brothers brought up Emmanuel's Manchester City shirt, representing the football team he supported and loved, and his Bible, to represent his deep faith. During the homily Fr Bradley spoke of how Emmanuel had 'distinguished himself by his devotion of heart, by his courtesy, calmness and sense of gratitude for anything and everything he was given. 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 — Father Francis Bradley 'An excellent student who always gave his best, 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.' All of this, he said, 'made the tragedy which befell himself and Matt Sibanda, from Zimbabwe, on Saturday evening last all the more difficult to comprehend, all the more painful. 'They appear to have been doing what young boys would – playing football and going into the water to retrieve the ball. '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?' he asked. '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.' Referring to the alternative name for the lough, the Lake of Shadows, Fr Bradley said it 'conveys the mood of our broken hearts'. 'It is distressingly difficult for all of us to come to terms with this tragedy,' he said. Tony Joel, a neighbour of the Familola family in Nigeria, thanked the Irish people on behalf of the African community in Donegal, Derry, Ireland and the Familola family. 'From the bottom of my heart,' he said, 'I want to thank the people from Buncrana, from Inishowen and from Donegal for being there for us the moment this tragedy happened,' he said. '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 at this hard time.' Burial took place afterwards at Cockhill cemetery, Buncrana.
