Sean was conceived in England, born in Ireland; he had one English and three Irish grandparents. He loved Ireland, and it suited him well … especially the relaxed, easy-going world of rural communities and small towns. He would have adapted wherever he might have found himself, but in this world he didn’t need to adapt … it was completely natural to him. He had its speech and its mannerisms.
The time he came along suited him too … the free and largely secular society that Ireland had become; the technology that allowed such ease of communication and enjoyment of computer games, music and other resources; the absence of a pronounced and problematic gap between the worldviews of his and his parents’ generations. All these factors, with his own sociable and inquisitive nature, conduced to an enjoyable and fulfilling life.
Sean and Clio had talked about getting married up on Sliabh na Caillighe (the Hill of the Witch) … the megalithic site we can see from our house, on the Lough Crew Hills. I don’t know whether or not this would have happened – and we shall never know now – but I do know that they loved each other very much. That would have been a day to remember … a day of revelry.
Pauline and I were in the local pub last night, at a surprise 50th birthday party for a neighbour. Many people talked to us about Sean. People are very good and kind. My mind wandered away from the music and fun, to visualize Sean walking through the bar with a smile on his face, greeting friends and acquaintances in his inimitable relaxed style. But he is gone, and he won’t be back.
We are getting on with our lives, as we must, but the ache remains.
The road to God knows where ... Brendan O'Brien 
A warm domestic photograph, Brendano. You certainly come across as a charming household in a charming part of the world, at an enjoyable period in Irish history. So tragic that your happiness was affected by a cruel bolt out of the blue.
I hope that your son’s girlfriend will be able to carry on, without forgetting but without torturing herself with ideas of what might have been. Very hard.
Thank you, Cymbeline. It was and is a happy household. Even now, we feel, the house has a good, warm atmosphere … there is no sense of gloom and doom about it, I’m glad to say.
Yes, it is very hard for her. I think it will take quite a lot of time for her to heal and move on, and of course she will always love and remember Sean.
We are here to help in any way we can.
Hello Brendan … Christmas is a particularly difficult time to get through emotionally when your loss is so recent and so raw… the ache is your soul bruised by grief .. slowly and almost as imperceptible as time passing, that acute pain will lessen.
There is no void .. Sean lives in your heart and soul for eternity … that is love.
Marya x
Hello Marya … you are very kind, as always. Thank you.