"Cian had the most beautiful smile, the tightest hugs and the biggest heart" - funeral tribute to Mayo boy

Grieving parents of a six-year-old schoolboy who lost his life in a road collision on Sunday movingly recalled "our special little boyeen” at his Funeral Mass in Crossmolina, this afternoon (Wednesday)

Cian Rowland’s mother, Leona, told mourners in St. Tiernan’s Church: “Cian had the most beautiful smile. He gave the tightest hugs. He had the biggest heart.

“He had a way of bringing joy into every room that he entered."

Continuing, Mrs. Rowland recalled that Cian arrived into the world on her own birthday, November 12, 2019.

“It was the best birthday present any mother could wish for."

She explained that she and her husband, Noel, were “scared and worried” when Cian was first diagnosed with autism but quickly realised that their very energetic, affectionate, determined son was still Cian and would always be Cian.

“The only thing that needed to change was our understanding of autism and our understanding of how Cian processed things and saw the world.

“He opened our world up to special needs, often difficult but so rewarding. A sensory seeker, he loved to touch things, to smell things, he loved to jump, he loved to bounce, he loved to squeeze.”

Noel Rowland told an overflow gathering at the concelebrated Mass his son had taught his family “the joy of giving, the joy of celebrating every unique milestone, the joy of everyone’s own uniqueness."

He continued: “Cian Rowland made us better people, a better family."

Fr. Francis Judge, parish priest of Crossmolina, was the main celebrant of today’s Requiem Mass for the six-year-old who lived with his parents and siblings Norah, Micheál and Sinéad, at Deerpark, Crossmolina.

The boy lost his life when struck by a vehicle while walking following Mass on Sunday last.

School pals of Cian’s at Eskeragh National School formed a guard of honour as the remains were brought from the church for burial in Crossmolina Cemetery.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.