Sixteen years on from the death of her son, Veronica McCarron, after considerable time secured permissions to move Anthony from Thomastown, Kilkenny to the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Irvinestown. 

Anthony was 27 years old when a tragic accident in South Dakota left him with horrific head injuries, paralysing him from the neck down. Following the accident Anthony was in a coma before passing away.  

Veronica, who rose to fame leading Kilkenny Presentation School Choir on Britain’s Got Talent said, “After he passed away I brought him back to Ireland for burial, I thought that was best for everyone. I was teaching in Kilkenny at the time at the Presentation Secondary School. I brought Anthony back and buried him in Thomastown where I was living.”

After retiring Veronica moved from Thomastown back to Ballyshannon and has returned to Kilkenny twice each month, visiting her son’s grave. 

Speaking about the reinterment she said, “We decided on Saturday 14 September. I had a wonderful funeral director down in Kilkenny who liaised with Jim Barnett in Irvinestown. 

“The whole day was incredibly smooth. Anthony’s daughter Eva came over from America. His dad Ralph and brother Rory were there as were family from England, Scotland and Spain.

“The whole thing was so dignified, we had a beautiful procession at the church and we then went on to Irvinestown where Fr Duffy and Fr McGourty led a graveside blessing. Fr McGourty and Fr Duffy were both very supportive, as were the Parish Council who allowed this to go ahead.”

Veronica thanked Fr Dan Bollard for support over the years and Kilkenny County Council and Department of Health for permission to rebury Anthony in another jurisdiction.

“I have gone to Irvinestown every single day since and I can be there and back in about 45 minutes. I just feel I have been touched by a saint. I have to pinch myself, it’s ten times better than winning the lottery, because I have got my son beside me.”