The father of Matthew Healy has paid an emotional tribute to his son at his funeral mass in Co Cork.
Mourners carried the six-year-old’s coffin along the main street of Watergrasshill in County Cork earlier ahead of his funeral.
Matthew died on Friday after he was found unresponsive in a car close to Dunmore East in County Waterford.
His father James Healy thanked the Gardaí, first responders and staff at University Hospital Waterford.
Mourners follow the coffin of Matthew James Healy into the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Cork, 14-2-24. Image: Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ieMr Healy said he was "overwhelmed with emotion and love" when Matthew was born.
"It was like being hit by a train - it isn't until you experience this love yourself that you are truly able to understand how incredibly overwhelming it is.
"I loved him so much and I knew straight away I had an extraordinary little man on my hands.
"Matthew was a beautiful child in every way; he had striking blue eyes, blonde curly hair a gorgeous smile and a most infectious laugh.
"He was pure joy - I couldn't count the number of times I was stopped on the street by complete strangers commenting on how beautiful he was.
"Matthew was a very affectionate child but he was full of divilment and a bit of craic.
"Right from the word go he just loved a bit of fun".
Matthew Healy. Image: rip.ieMr Healy recalled when he went and got his head shaved, sarcasm was not lost on Matthew.
"He looked at me and he said, 'I'd say you have new shoes Dad, do you?'"
On the night Matthew died, Mr Healy remembers a mishap with his washing which turned all his underpants pink.
"I think if Matthew was here today he'd have you all told, individually and collectively, that Dad was wearing pink underpants," he said.
'Confident and articulate'
Mr Healy said his son had a large impact for such a young age.
"In his so very short six years and nearly nine months on this Earth, Matthew made an immense impact," he said.
"He was a very confident and articulate little man who made friends everywhere he went.
"If he didn't know anyone when he got there, there'd all know him by the time he was leaving just like his grandad done.
"Matthew and myself were like two peas in a pod – he was my little lad, my buddy and my chief.
"My sister often referred to us as the dream team - at the weekends we did everything together.
"Whether it was at home building things out of Lego or playing Donkey Kong... or on the go cycling, swimming or exploring the mountains at home.
"We made the best use of our time together, always."
James Healy is comforted by a Garda at the funeral of his son Matthew Healy in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Cork, 14-2-24. Image: Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ieRecalling his son's love of music, Mr Healy spoke to Matthew: "Buddy, I'll never forget the concerts and festivals we went to.
"Some of the most precious memories are of our Friday night discos in the sitting room.
"You will be forever remembered through our music."
Mr Healy said his son's passing is "an incomprehensible loss" to his school friends and cousins "who should not know such grief so young".
He added that he knows Matthew would have grown into a "most decent and capable man" but he will be "forever six years old".
"Matthew: it has been the greatest honour in my life, and an absolute pleasure to be your Dad," he said.
"And I'm so sorry I couldn't save you, chief".
The funeral mass will be followed by a private service at the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy.
