A third brother, Cian O\u2019Connor, said the last week has been \u201cextremely difficult\u201d for his family, but \u201cthe outpouring of support for people has been immense\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo words can truly reflect how we all feel, how I feel. I am hurting; we all are. It\u2019s something that may take an age to come to terms with and part of each of us may never heal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While the events of recent days are \u201cdifficult to comprehend\u201d, Mr O\u2019Connor said today was about celebrating \u201cthe rich lives they led\u201d.<\/p>\n
![\"Mourners](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/LCGJTUFEJRCOUHYYXVOZ3TMKFQ.jpg\")
Mourners wore odd-coloured socks, as requested by the extended family, to the funeral of Mark O’Connor, Louise Doherty O’Connor and their son Evan, at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dundalk. Photograph: Mark Marlow\/PA Wire <\/p>\n
His father had always been his \u201cinspiration\u201d, he said, noting he became a passionate \u201cchampion for people with intellectual disabilities\u201d.<\/p>\n
His father loved running and spent many happy days with the North East Runners Dundalk, or the \u201cNERDs\u201d as they were affectionately known in the O\u2019Connor house. <\/p>\n
Members of the running club formed a guard of honour before and after the funeral mass.<\/p>\n
Evan O\u2019Connor was \u201ca spark of joy\u201d whose smile \u201cwould light up every room he walked into\u201d, said Cian O\u2019Connor.<\/p>\n
He told mourners about his late brother\u2019s daily ritual of insisting the entire family must wait up until midnight so he could change the date on a block calendar in the kitchen. <\/p>\n
Waiting up could be frustrating on nights where people were tired, the funeral service heard. However, Evan\u2019s insistence meant \u201cwe stayed awake longer, we chatted more, we laughed more\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Connor said he is forever grateful that his late brother \u201cgave us more time together as a family\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said his mother was a deeply kind person who spent her life caring for her family and others as a nurse. She was \u201cso looking forward\u201d to his upcoming wedding, recalling how happy she was when she saw his fianc\u00e9e Shauna try on her wedding dress.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Connor\u2019s eulogy received a standing ovation.<\/p>\n
Fr Gerry Campbell, the chief celebrant, said Mark and Louise were \u201csoulmates\u201d who shared a \u201cdeep love\u201d. He spoke about the \u201cboundless love they both had for Evan . . . their joy, their pride and their world\u201d.<\/p>\n