The late Private Sam Hayden Kilroe'Soldier Sam' laid to rest with full military honoursMourners at the funeral Mass for a soldier who served with the 2 Brigade Artillery Regiment in Athlone were told this week that he “loved his life and particularly his army life” and had “found joy and given joy” to everyone he met. Just as he had found great joy in fulfilling his lifelong wish to join the Defence Forces in 2019, the tragic young soldier was accorded full military honours at his funeral, including gun carriage, Army band, volley of shots over his grave, last post and reveille. In a deeply poignant gesture, members of the Army Band led the gun carriage with the late Private Hayden Kilroe's remains through the streets of his beloved Tullamore. The cortage was accompanied by large numbers of his Defence Forces colleagues who marched alongside in military uniform. Mourners were also told that Private Sam Hayden Kilroe's family and friends had many names for him, including "Sambo, Samson, Sam I Am and his own personal favourite which was Soldier Sam."

Source: Irish Independent November 27, 2022 07:24 UTC