Bikers turn out in tribute to a ‘man who lived life fully’
THERE were touching and emotional tributes paid to biker and fundraiser Aidan Lynam at a packed St Mary’s Church in Lucan on Wednesday morning.
The Lucan man, who married wife Nicky in the same church 15 years previously, inspired so many – raising more than €1.6 million for Down Syndrome Ireland during his short life.
He tragically passed away on Sunday when his motorcycle collided with a car during the Rev-Up4DSI annual fundraiser which he helped to organise.
Fr Thomas Kennedy celebrated the funeral Mass and reminded those present that Aidan was a “champion of advocacy” and a man who did so much to help others and would be dearly missed by wife Nicky and children Jake, Robyn and Harry.
His son, Jake, thanked family friend Alan McCaffery for “minding our dad” after the crash on Sunday in a heartfelt Prayer of the Faithful.
There was standing room only as Aidan’s family, friends in Down Syndrome Ireland and hundreds of bikers who knew and loved the keen motorcyclist paid their last respects – with St Mary’s Parish Centre opened up to accommodate the hundreds of people present.
The service was also streamed live on the Internet for the huge amount of people across the country who could not be present.
The father-of-three was described as a “forthright” speaker who revelled in the challenges he was faced with and excelled and celebrated them, accepting whatever came his way with “great courage”.
Fr Kennedy said: “Aidan was a person who rose to the task. When faced with challenges he could have sat down and done nothing but instead he always rose to the challenge. In Aidan we see one who lived life and lived it fully and we can all celebrate that life.”
Pat Clarke, Down Syndrome Ireland, spoke of a “much loved” person, colleague, father and person who was a “pain in the rear that was almost always right.”
The coffin was carried from the church to strains of Steppenwolf classic Born To Be Wild as the heartbroken family and friends were greeted by hundreds of revving bikers outside St Mary’s.
Aidan was laid to rest in Esker Cemetery and the family requested that donations be made, if desired, to Down Syndrome Ireland in lieu of flowers.
