Nuala Creane's tribute to her son

pikachucheeks

Just wondering if anyone else read Nuala Creane's tribute to her son, Sebastian who died in that stabbing tragedy in Bray? It's been printed in a few papers yesterday and today.

I just thought I'd share some of it, get a few of your thoughts.

We think we can live on this earth and not be affected by what we do to her. There is a dim, but growing awareness of the affect of using chemical fertilisers and pesticides on our land and our food and health. We are all conscious about how viruses are spread.
But what about our thoughts, words and actions? Are they not toxic? When we think negative thoughts, do they have no effect? When we think one thing and say another, which carries the most impact, the thought or the intention? Surely these thoughts act just like a virus, manifesting in vunerable souls."

We live on earth in a world of contrasts, big, small, hard, soft, bad, dark and light. But one can't paint a picture without at least two shades.
It is the dark that gives definition to the light.

Do we continue to live in darkness, seeing only fear, anger, bitterness, resentment, blaming, bemoaning our loss, always looking backwards, blaming, blaming blaming? Or are we ready to transmute that negativity? We can rise to the challenge with unconditional love knowing we were born on this earth to grow.

Personally, I thought what she said was amazing. Clearly, a very intelligent and deep woman. Reading that gave me a lot to think about. Her perspective on life is admirable.

It's quite outstanding that despite just losing her youngest son, she was able to offer comforting words to the very congregation that had come to comfort and support her.

Obviously, she mentioned Seb in a lot of her speech. I decided not to include that, for the moment. As she mentioned her strong faith, belief in God and I didn't want this to turn into a debate between theists and atheists. Just wanted people's feedback on her views, her thoughts on the world, as she desribed in parts of her speech.

Novella

I have to say, when I read it, I cried my eyes out. She deserves a huge amount of respect and admiration for her strength and for her words. After losing her son in such a heinous crime, she retained her composure and recited a speech so powerful and full of thought.

It was a beautiful tribute to her son and I can only imagine that he would have been extremely proud of her, as she should be of herself. It is always said that losing a child is one of the hardest things in life and I extend my deepest sympathies to both her and of course, Sebastian's father. Nuala Creane really did portray an excellent example of the goodness in people in the face of terrible adversity.

Very moving and like you, it really left me with a lot to think about.

pikachucheeks

I cried too - and I'm working in the middle of an office!

I have a lot of respect for that woman, bless her. Her life has been turned upside down, and she's still kept her faith and has a positive outlook on life and fate.

Novella

I read it in work too! Next thing, a tear lands on the newspaper, followed by another and I'm there trying to sort myself out before anyone notices or my make up vanishes!

It's unbelievable really. I would never be able to do what she did. I can't imagine anything more awful. She is such an example.

Nervous Wreck

Seems kinda bland and uninspired to me. Hardly the deepest or most original of thoughts. Though I'm sure it's kinda taboo to say that, given the circumstances. She seems quite intelligent anyway, I'm sure the speech in its entirety is quite the tear-jerker. Incredibly sad thing to have happened.

Red Alert

I happened to be at Mass this morning and the priest read quite a bit of her eulogy: very powerful and moving.

Creamy Goodness

After knowing Nuala through Seb since the age of 8, Nuala has been a big inspiration to me.

Her outlook on life is truely outstanding and her way with words are truely breath-taking. I knew Nuala was going to make a speech and to be honest I thought I'd be bawling my eyes out but in fact I was the exact opposite.

Seeing her up on the altar and delivering that speech with such conviction and without a tear shed was a testament to the character she is when you believe what she's going through.

NoodlePoodle

I thought it was quite moving, it reminded me on the statement made by Brian murphys mother in court, he was the boy who was kicked to death outside a nightclub in Ballsbridge in 2004. The parents Victim Impact statement stunned me. Having a child die in such a violent and senceless manner, all these people had the grace to consider others and not reflect in hopelessness.

Orla K

I find it quite an uninspiring and boring speech. I've heard alot of speeches and I've actually listened to them and really they are all very similar to this one. I found nothing new to think about while reading that.


I don't really know what happened, for the past while I've avoided that kind of news but, it is horrible to lose someone close to you. I've lost the two people I was closest to and I would say well done to her for making that speech at that time, it's not an easy thing to do.

squishywishy

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

After knowing Nuala through Seb since the age of 8, Nuala has been a big inspiration to me.

Her outlook on life is truely outstanding and her way with words are truely breath-taking. I knew Nuala was going to make a speech and to be honest I thought I'd be bawling my eyes out but in fact I was the exact opposite.

Seeing her up on the altar and delivering that speech with such conviction and without a tear shed was a testament to the character she is when you believe what she's going through.

I think the speech was very deep.
Made me cry also. I thought the references to his birth, wicker coffin and his girlfriend jennifer were particularly heartbreaking.

My heart goes out to the Creane family and their friends.

Its a shocking story that hundreds of familes around Ireland could find themselves in.

Corb

Does anyone have a link to the full speech? Thanks.

tbayday

The full text of Nuala's eulogy is available on The Irish Times website.
I'm unsure if the contributors who have suggested her words were bland and uninspiring have actually read her speech and are aware of the context of her words. Bland and uninspiring it certainly was not! What strength of character she has shown to all who grieve.

Orla K

tbayday wrote: »

The full text of Nuala's eulogy is available on The Irish Times website.
I'm unsure if the contributors who have suggested her words were bland and uninspiring have actually read her speech and are aware of the context of her words. Bland and uninspiring it certainly was not! What strength of character she has shown to all who grieve.

I've only read the bit that was posted here, and I don't know most of the details of what happened but I know enough. I still stand by what I said about the part of the speech which was quoted here, it's like every other speech I've heard. One thing does stand out with it, she gave the speech at a very difficult time, which I have said before.



I also won't to read the full speech (for reasons which I don't want to get into) and I'm a little worried at how I'm coming across on this as the other person has said it's a taboo to say things like this when someone has died, people only talk about how great the person was and how great people are coping, it's very much frowned upon to say anything remotely negative.

Dudess

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

After knowing Nuala through Seb since the age of 8

So sorry about your friend, Cremo.

NoodlePoodle

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0825/1224253194332.html?via=rel

Clare Bear

I just read it. Honestly, I've been to funerals where the speeches were a lot more emotional and made a bigger impact on me than hers did. I do admire her strength and outlook on life, it's admirable but that speech didn't make me think like others I've heard which felt like they were more from the heart. I admire the woman but it didn't feel natural to me.

nesbitt

Clare Bear wrote: »

I just read it. Honestly, I've been to funerals where the speeches were a lot more emotional and made a bigger impact on me than hers did. I do admire her strength and outlook on life, it's admirable but that speech didn't make me think like others I've heard which felt like they were more from the heart. I admire the woman but it didn't feel natural to me.

I read part of the speech in the newspaper. I found it was so PC and well worded but totally surreal to me. I know that I could be totally contained for the funeral, I did this at my brothers funeral and it was awful due to his suicide. I was PC and a strength for those around me. I said all the right deep things on the day. Some time after I had incredible grief, anger, bewilderment and feelings of emptyness for him. I have no doubt that Nuala will in time feel all those things and deal with them in a real gut wrenching way.

I totally admire a lady like this who can hold herself and take centre stage at such an incredibly difficult time. Privately her real self and feelings will surface and be dealth with in the love of her family.

Nervous Wreck

tbayday wrote: »

The full text of Nuala's eulogy is available on The Irish Times website.
I'm unsure if the contributors who have suggested her words were bland and uninspiring have actually read her speech and are aware of the context of her words. Bland and uninspiring it certainly was not! What strength of character she has shown to all who grieve.

Nope, only read the bit that was quoted in the first post of this page and made my judgement on that. Call me a pr1ck but I've no interest in reading further to make an opinion on the whole thing.

Wuggectumondo

A very inspiring, admirable, deep insight

tommmy1979

As someone else mentioned, i've heard similar eulogies at funerals before some of them moved me as much some of them moved me more... not all eulogies end up in print in the irish times. This one did because it is a high profile tragedy, tragedies are unfolding all around us all of the time.
I think it's a bit early for her to be speaking about forgiveness at this early stage.

WaltKowalski

I know it has nothing to do with anything really - but does anyone know what she does? As in a job?
She's very brave to speak in the way she did.

netanyahu

I hope that if you are one of the people here who found this speech dull and uninspired that you soon will learn the importance of love, compassion, empathy, courage, wisdom, strength and forgiveness; then maybe you too can begin to understand how epic this speech was considering the context it was given.

Sebastians parents are absolutely amazing- this speech lifted hundreds of hearts during one of the most unimaginably hard experiences that we, as friends of all involved, will hopefully ever face. Thank you Nuala for being so strong, you have changed my life and inspired me and so many others to find that 'something inside so strong', and to pave my path with that which matters.

Sebastian Creane is one of the most wonderful people that has ever graced my life. Fact.