Kayleigh’s funeral told she loved ‘through actions, not words’

MOURNERS filled St Patrick’s Church in Clonoe this morning to bid farewell to a beloved mother, DJ, boxer, carer and friend whose vibrant spirit touched countless lives.

Leading the Requiem Mass to Kayleigh Magee, Fr John McCallion painted a vivid portrait of a young woman remembered not just for her many talents, but for the warmth and laughter she brought to those around her.

“Kayleigh was constantly making people laugh,” he told the congregation.

“She always put others first. The love she had in her heart was felt not through words, but through actions.”

In an emotional eulogy, Fr McCallion reflected on the many roles Kayleigh played in life – behind the decks, in the boxing ring, caring for others, and cutting hair – each one an expression of her generous nature.

“She lived life to the full… a DJ, a boxer, a carer, and a barber. In all those things, she was tending to others’ needs, and we are thankful that she lived and walked among us,” he said.

He added that while her passing brings sorrow, her legacy will live on in the love she gave and the joy she shared – especially through her passion for music.

“During lockdown, she lifted spirits by sharing her music online. She made people smile and laugh with her love for everyone. Whilst this is a day of sadness, it’s also a day of joy in remembering Kayleigh, whose memory and smile will live on in each and every one of our hearts.”

Tributes poured in from across the community following her sudden passing last Thursday. The Blackthorn in Dungannon, where Kayleigh was a regular behind the DJ booth, remembered her as someone with a ‘radiant soul and kind heart’.

“Her energy every weekend behind the decks was unmatched,” a spokesperson said. “She didn’t just play songs – she created moments stitched into our hearts forever.”

Kayleigh was also a passionate boxer, having trained with both Loughshore ABC and Cookstown ABC. The Tyrone and Fermanagh Boxing County Board expressed condolences, while professional boxer Conrad Cummings remembered her as ‘a good little fighter for the record’ and a genuinely friendly person.

Kayleigh Magee was the loving mother of Michael, Connor and Paudi, and the cherished daughter of Aileen O’Neill and the late Christopher Magee.

She was the sister of Shauna (Kerri), and granddaughter to Mickey and the late Anne O’Neill, and Billy and Madge Magee. She had been planning to marry her fiancé, Brandon O’Hanlon.

She was laid to rest in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Clonoe.