A heart-breaking love verse written by slain Irish soldier Private Seán Rooney to his fiancé has been placed on his gave in Co Donegal.
Private Rooney (24) was buried with full military and state honours at All Saints’ Church in Newtowncunninham after he was shot dead while on peace-keeping duties with the Irish army in Lebanon in December 2022.
At the time of his death, he was making plans with his fiancé, Holly McConnellogue from Derry to marry.
President Michael D Higgins along with then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste, Micheál Martin represent the state as Private Higgins was buried with full military honours.
An image of Private Rooney, in full uniform standing before the Tricolour, has been included on a new headstone erected by his family in Newtowncunningham.
The headstone also includes the inscription: “Proud I stood. Now proud I lie. Pray for Peace, As you Pass by. My life is over. My peace duties done. Now God as taken, His soldier home.”
A moving tribute was also erected on the grave, featuring a picture of Private Rooney and his fiancé along with the short love poem the soldier wrote to her.
“Love. Feeling that you would like to know that person forever. Love is about giving and sharing. Love is a spoonful of medicine when you’re sick. Love is happiness. Love never ends – Seán O R.”
Sharing pictures of the new headstone and tribute on social media, Private Rooney’s uncle, John Rooney said: “My nephew, my wee bro got his headstone yesterday. Very, very fitting, and a monument to a professional, a hero who gave his life for something real. I’ll always look up to you as a role model Seán. You are the ultimate definition of a hero. RIP. So proud to be your uncle.”
