Lewis Fay-Cooper 1997-2020

It is with profound sadness and regret that CLG Killinkere acknowledge the sudden passing of Lewis Fay-Cooper following a tragic accident. We extend our deepest sympathies to his father Richard, his mother Patricia, his brother Conor, his extended family, his friends, his work colleagues, his teammates and fellow club members.

The Fay-Cooper family moved to Killinkere when Lewis was 8, in time to make his First Holy Communion. He is fondly regarded by all in Killinkere NS as a hardworking, enthusiastic and friendly boy, always ready with a smile. It wasn’t long before Lewis and his brother Conor made their way up to underage training at the football field and a lifelong love for Killinkere was born.

He moved on to Virginia College, where he was regarded as an exemplary member of the school community and a role model both to his peers and to younger students. He won U14 and U16 Ulster football titles in 2012 and 2013, being awarded man of the match in the U14 final, and also an Ulster soccer medal in 2013.

Indeed, for a time, soccer threatened to steal Lewis’s heart. It was perhaps his first love, and Lewis and Killinkere won a couple of Community Games Indoor Soccer titles (coached by his Dad, Richard) and he played with Virginia FC and the NEC representative team with distinction.

His underage career was not blessed with many medals, but he continued to develop his skills and his passion for the game. An U16 Division 2 title with St Killian’s, and some lost U21 finals with Assan Gaels stand out in memory.

At county level, Lewis was a key member of the Cavan minor team that reached the Ulster final in 2015 and went on to lose the All-Ireland quarter final by a point to Kildare in Navan.

By 2015, Lewie was already a well-established member of the Killinkere senior team, having made his debut in 2014 at 16 years old. In the next five years, Killinkere have gone from strength to strength winning three league titles, gaining promotion to Division 1, and playing in five county finals (including replays). Lewis was an integral and vital part of this process and has been captain since 2018, lifting the Sean Leddy Cup as we finally got over the line on that memorable day last September.

As long as football is played in Killinkere, Lewis Fay-Cooper will be remembered; for his commitment and skill as a player, for his willing friendship, for his ability to bring people together for a common purpose, for his availability and helpfulness to the younger members of the club, who loved him so much, and most of all, for his joyous, happy nature, and that smile.

The club would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the amazing outpouring of support and sympathy for Lewis’s family and friends over the past days. The solidarity of local GAA clubs and other sporting organisations from near and far was of great comfort. Also, the heartfelt messages from former teammates and opponents, and from the many individuals whose lives were touched by this tragedy, were so much appreciated, by Lewis’s family and by CLG Killinkere and Lewis’s teammates.

We would also like to thank Fr John Gilhooley for his thoughtful and moving sermon and for the way in which he conducted Lewis’s very moving funeral service. Also, Fr Kevin Fay for his words of consolation and hope for the future. Finally, James and Mags Matthews from Matthews Funeral Directors for organising the broadcast of the funeral and for their thoughtful and discreet presence all through this difficult time.

Our club motto is an old Irish seanfhocail, “Ní neart gur cur le chéile”, and it basically mean “We are stronger together”. We would ask everyone to take comfort from this in these difficult times, and to remember that as a club, as a community, the Killinkere family will come through this together, stronger.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.