The funeral procession of the late teenager Donal Walshe has left his home in Blennerville, Co. Kerry.
The 16-year-old died on Sunday night at his home in Blennerville - following a four year battle with cancer.
Donal made national headlines when he appealed to young people contemplating suicide to look for help.
He'll be laid to rest in Rath cemetery, after funeral Mass at St John's Church in Tralee.
Radio Kerry reporter Anna Curtin is in Blennerville, she's told Newstalk "Such was his effect on people, particularly over the last few months, that people are just turning out to pay their respects to Donal and of course to his family aswell."
Donal's legacy
Earlier this week, Junior Minister for Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch promised that an anti-suicide video Donal recorded before his death would be made available to every school in the country.
After Donal’s appearance on the Saturday Night show with Brendan O’Connor, Minister Lynch contacted him and asked if he’d like to record his message to appeal to teenagers not to consider suicide, and he agreed but asked that it be made available to schools around the country.
The 16 year old came to prominence after he wrote a letter pleading to teenagers not to take their own lives, explaining he was preparing for his own death.
He said "So please, as a 16-year-old who has no say in his death sentence, who has no choice in the pain he is about to cause and who would take any chance at even a few more months on this planet, appreciate what you have, know that there are always other options and help is always there."
Tributes
Proud to have been introduced to @donal_walsh_by Paul O Connell.What an inspiritional young man. Thoughts and prayers with your loved ones.
— Ronan O Gara (@RonanOGara10) May 13, 2013
Such a sad story .RIP Donal.independent.ie/opinion/analys…
— Nicky Byrne (@nickybyrneoffic) May 13, 2013
Very sad to hear of the passing of an inspirational young man Donal Walsh. My thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family #RIPDonal
— Alan Quinlan (@AlanQuinlan1) May 12, 2013
