FRIENDS of 20-year old Phil McConnell, who died after collapsing at the Electric Picnic concert, have honoured their departed colleague by creating a poignant memorial mural at Windmill Lane.
Featuring a 10-metre wide artistic rendition the images includes one of the Malahide native wearing his trademark straw trilby hat.
McConnell’s removal at the Sacred Heart Church in Seabury, Malahide, was filled to overflowing as the popular former Belvedere College pupil’s funeral mass was celebrated.
The DIT student collapsed at the festival near Stradbally, Co Laois in the early hours of the Saturday morning and was removed to Portlaoise General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
He had a pre-existing heart condition, and as a baby McConnell was Ireland’s youngest heart transplant recipient, which he received in Great Ormond Street, London, in February 1994.
His friends from Seabury, the estate where he lived, and throughout Malahide collected $500 in the aftermath of his funeral to kick start the initiative.
Then, over 20 of them spent the day at Windmill Lane creating the mural which included Fat Boy Slim’s ‘smiley-face’ logo, a message ‘Love From All’ and the line
‘1993 to Infinity’.
Many of his friends visited Windmill Lane over the weekend as word of the wall painting spread on social media sites and mobile phone images.
The idea was the brainchild of friend and neighbour Stephen Lambe and he immediately received support from Phil’s wide circle of friends as well as his family.
At his son’s funeral, his father Stephen said he was holding onto his son’s trademark Trilby hat
“until I get to the gates of heaven and I’ll return it in person
?.
“I won’t have to ask St Peter to presume you’re in,
? his dad added.
“I’ll be able to hear the party music blaring. Phil, you were a gentleman, a rogue, a chancer and a charmer all rolled into one.
?
The funeral featured music from Fat Boy Slim, U2 and Phil’s favourite song, Aslan’s
‘Crazy World’.
All funds raised from the creation of the Phil McConnell Memorial Mural will be donated to the Children’s Medical Research Foundation at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.
Anyone wishing to contribute can do so by using the Charity Foundation number CHY4483A.
Phil McConnell is survived by his father, his mother Joyce and brother Barry.