'KILLIAN was our youngest brother – the baby of the family, and probably the favourite if I’m being honest,’ Nora Lawton smiles.
‘He was great fun and got on with people of all ages. One of my aunts in Barryroe is big into golf, and Killian, at 15 or 16, would happily head off golfing with her in Dunmore for the day. Most teenagers wouldn’t entertain that, but he just loved being around people.’
Killian died from an aggressive cancer in July 2021, just 24 years old. From diagnosis to when he passed, it was just 15 months.
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The Barryroe man was already exploring the world, spreading his wings and racking up adventures, with so many more still to come. There were J1 summers that took in San Francisco, Vegas and New York, as well as trips to Thailand, Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
‘He packed a lot into those years,’ Nora says.
Killian was sports-mad too. A huge Chelsea fan, he loved everything from Formula 1 to rugby and followed it all with real passion. He played GAA as well and was part of the Ibane Gaels team that won the county U21B football championship in 2016. His family are steeped in Barryroe GAA, with his dad Pat a well-known and respected referee.
Killian was many things to many people, and he lives on through the memories he created. Four years after his passing, new memories are still being made in his name and in his spirit.
He would have turned 30 on September 8th, a milestone moment. His family plan to mark it with the third running of a fundraiser in Killian’s honour and memory.
What began as a way to remember Killian has grown into something much more meaningful and far-reaching.
Now in its third year, the event has become a fitting tribute to a young man who meant so much to so many. It is as much about remembering Killian – the brother, the teammate, the friend – as it is about giving back, with proceeds supporting causes that cared for him during his illness and treatment.
In that sense, his story continues to make a lasting impact, bringing people together in the same easy, natural way he always did.
‘We’ve been running this fundraiser for the past few years,’ Nora says.
‘The first one was Easter 2022, just after Killian died, in aid of Marymount.
‘The support was incredible – not just locally, but from people all over the world.
‘What we realised was that it gave people a chance to stop and think about Killian. It’s the same again this year, especially with his 30th birthday coming up in September. It’s an opportunity to pause, remember him, and reflect on what a positive force he was in all our lives.’
This Easter weekend, Killian’s family are asking people to put on their runners, walking shoes, hiking boots or even swimming togs and get moving for two incredible Cork charities – Brú Columbanus and Marymount Hospice.
Whether you choose to cover 5k or 10k, this ‘virtual’ challenge runs from Good Friday (April 3rd) to Easter Monday (6th), and whether you are in West Cork or Australia, it offers a chance to remember Killian while raising funds for two very worthy causes.
The suggested donation is €20, and all funds raised will be split equally between Brú Columbanus and the Marymount West Cork Palliative Care Service (Bantry Hospital) via iDonate.
And this is the lasting legacy that Killian leaves. As his life is celebrated, and memories shared, vital funds are being raised for two charities that can help other people like they did with Killian.
The same young man who would head off golfing with his aunt without a second thought is still bringing people together, across parishes, counties, even continents.
‘Killian really was a positive, outgoing person. He studied physics and applied maths in UCC, and moved to London about nine months before he got sick.
‘What gives us comfort is how much he did in his life and the impression he made on people there,’ Nora says.
Killian’s memory lives on, as he is still making a difference.
