'Too loved to ever be forgotten': Buncrana’s Children’s Charity honours the life and legacy of Lewis Kelly

The charity commissioned 500 memorial cards and keyrings, which have been distributed to Lewis’s classmates and teachers in Carndonagh Community School, his teammates and management teams at Culdaff FC and Malin GAA, as well as members of his family and close friends.

The memorial items feature the touching words: “Carry his kindness. Carry his laughter. Carry him with you through it all " alongside the Irish blessing: “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”

The project was conceived as a lasting reminder of the impact Lewis had on so many lives and as a way of bringing comfort to those who continue to miss him every day.

Adrian McMyler, Chairperson of Buncrana’s Children’s Charity, said: “There are some people whose impact on a community cannot be measured in years, and Lewis was one of those people. His smile, his character, his kindness and the way he brought people together left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

"When we created these memorial cards and keyrings, we wanted to give people something they could hold onto when words alone were not enough. The message, ‘Carry his kindness. Carry his laughter. Carry him with you through it all,’ captures exactly what Lewis represented. His kindness should continue to inspire us, his laughter should continue to echo in our memories, and his spirit should continue to guide us through life’s challenges.

“We hope that every student, teacher, teammate, coach, friend and family member who receives one of these keepsakes feels a sense of comfort and connection. Lewis may no longer be physically with us, but he remains forever present in the stories we tell, the lessons he taught us, and the love he left behind. He was simply too loved to ever be forgotten.”

Catherine O’Donnell vice PRO , who helped create the tribute and wording, said: “Finding the right words to honour Lewis was incredibly difficult because no sentence could ever fully capture who he was or how much he meant to people. We wanted the message to be simple, heartfelt and something that people could carry with them every day.

The words ‘Carry his kindness. Carry his laughter. Carry him with you through it all’ came from thinking about the qualities that made Lewis so special.

"His kindness touched people. His laughter brightened rooms. His presence made others feel welcome. Even though he is gone, those gifts remain with everyone whose life he touched.

"My hope is that when people look at these cards or keyrings, they will think not only of their loss, but of the joy, friendship and happiness Lewis brought into their lives. That is a legacy worth carrying forward.”

Amanda Nelson - Public relations officer and who designed the memorial tribute, added: “This project came from a place of love. Every detail was created with Lewis and his family in mind. We wanted something that would honour his memory in a respectful and meaningful way, while also giving comfort to those who are grieving.

"Lewis brought friendship, strength and joy to his family, friends, teammates, school and community. His memory will continue to live on in all who knew him. The words on the memorial card remind us that while we cannot change what has happened, we can choose to carry the very best of Lewis forward every single day. “In every match played, every milestone reached and every path taken forward, Lewis will be remembered. His story continues through the people who loved him, and these memorial keepsakes are a small but powerful reminder of that enduring bond.”

Buncrana’s Children’s Charity wishes to thank everyone involved in supporting the initiative and extends its continued thoughts and prayers to Lewis’s family, friends, classmates, teammates and the wider community. The charity hopes that these memorial cards and keyrings will serve as a lasting tribute to a young man who touched so many lives and whose memory will never fade.