Neil Howard - 26th March 2000 to 28th May 2023

The following text is taken from the eulogy read at Neil's funeral

Neil had a warm infectious smile, a quick wit, a sharp intellect, was as stubborn as a mule but simultaneously was so kind-hearted, funny and with a deep knowledge of a range of topics from sport to politics and history

Neil was born in March 2000. He attended primary school here in Howth National School and I smiled frequently this week when I thought back to these days and the mischief that he, Annraoi  and Jack got up to.

I have many fond memories with Neil as a family in Ballybunion, be it playing on the beach or breaking windows with his cousins Cillian and Casey, or wearing duvets around the house and drinking hot chocolate when it inevitably rained.

Sport was a huge part of Neil’s life. When Neil was around four or five, he insisted on joining his brother on the first Binn Eadair underage Gaelic Football team in a long while, under the command of David Caulfield. At age 8 he began to play rugby with Suttonians Rugby Football Club. Even at this early age his dedication and commitment to Leinster rugby was already cemented.

As a Limerick man, I was thrilled when in 2006 Munster won the Heineken Cup. The trophy was brought to Young Munster Rugby Club and as a lifelong Young Munster supporter, my dad suggested I bring Neil and his brother Conor over to Greenfields to get a photo with the trophy and none other than Paul O’Connell. When it was time to take our photo, Neil turned to me in front of Paul and said loudly and proudly: “Dad, I don’t support Munster, I support Leinster” and refused to be in the photo.

He was remarkably consistent in who he supported, as his cousins Nicole and Simon knew too well, their concentrated efforts to convert Neil to support Manchester United were always in vain. He had chosen to support City, before they ever won a trophy, and that was that.

Following on from primary school, Neil joined in his older brother and grandfather’s footsteps in attending Belvedere College where he blossomed over the next 6 years.

I clearly recall Jackie’s reaction following our first parent teacher meeting. We met Louse Curtin, Neil’s class tutor from 1^st to 6^th year).

“She got him” was Jackie reaction after our meeting. Plenty of ability, could work harder, and needs to focus. Louse was his champion always encountering him through the years to try new things like the musical and various trips, including to Zambia which was a formative experience.

Neil continued to play with Suttonians from the age of 8 through to Junior Cert and what a great bunch of boys, parents, and coaches. We had a consistent group for close to 7 years and great games and trips including weekends to Limerick and Galway over the years.  

By fifth year in 2018 Neil was on the Belvo Senior Cup Panel. What a sixth year and cup run leading to a final in the RDS, in which they lost to Blackrock. But they were a brilliant, exciting few months with a highlight, last-minute-win over Michaels in the semi.

The joy of team sports is that one year you are arch enemies and the next you become teammates and close friends. So many of the Neil’s close friends from Trinity came from these two opposing teams.

Trinity Rugby was Neil’s passion over the past five years. He found such great friends, they won the all-Ireland U20’s, and Division 1 of the Metro-Cup. And at the end of 1^st year went on a great Trinity tour visiting the US and including games in Navy academy, West Point, Penn State, …. And finishing in Manhattan.

Neil’s years in Trinity also coincided with Covid, which as we all know was a very difficult time for young people.; Neil eventually had enough of lockdowns (and not entirely legally!) headed off on a trip which was to last 8 weeks including touring Croatia with his good friend Jody and to various cities in Spain. 

This trip reinforced Neil’s passion for travel and a wall map is mounted on his wall allowing it to mark off the various countries he visited.

Neil studied Sociology and Social Policy in Trinity and it really suited him…. I am not sure there are many 20 years old who could recite previous election results by constituencies, debate each political party’s polices including many robust discussions around our dinner table.

Neil was a voracious reader and has a vast knowledge of everything. Looking at the collection of books he purchased over the past 12 months. Some of which Conor outlined earlier. He bravely brought a book entitled “Why Men Earn More…..” into our house which led to a number of heated discussions – but the point was Neil was always interested in hearing both sides of an argument.

Neil exemplified ‘just in time’ time keeping which was a cause of great stress to family. Looking for lifts to the dart with 3 minutes to go was common and he’d often walk out of the house in his socks carrying his shoes. A case in point was when Neil was working for CES, Jackie was dropping him to work at a school in Raheny.

However, when they were close to arriving, and Jackie was telling Neil to get ready to get out of the car, Neil realised that he’d only one shoe with him, so the car needed to be turned around. Nonetheless, by the time they were back to Howth, he had managed to get an even more irate Jackie laughing again.

Neil moved out of home and into Trinity for his final year. What a year and what good friends. I know I’ve only heard a fraction of the antics but given Neils dislike for Trinity security staff, I can only imagine what he got up to.

Trinity completed and Covid over, Neil headed to New York for the summer and worked in a coffee shop in Manhattan as well as extensive travel across the United States which he loved.

Within the wider Howard and Harrison families, we are heartbroken that Neil is gone. 

Neil was my buddy, if we were not watching games together, we would be texting each other including a congratulations for Munster’s win last Sat. Ever the Leinster fan, though, he made sure to tell me that Stormer and the overall standard of rugby was poor.  

Jackie readily acknowledges that she was a soft touch in relation to Neil – including recently getting out of a bath to rush Neil to the DART but also has lovely memories of a special trip with Neil to visit the Normandy Beaches last September.

Neil was the beloved little brother of Conor. The two were born less than two years apart. Aside from the obvious bickering, the two spent many an evening in front of the tv, curled up with a special tea prepared by Jackie, or playing Lego Star Wars together. Last year, myself and the two boys took a trip to the Italian Grand Prix. After the race, they took off together and ran up the track in the sun, surrounded by flares and Ferrari flags.

Nobody knew how to annoy Sophie quite like Neil and as a truly great big brother, 95% of the time it was on purpose. Like with his mother, Neil could find any sign of a smile through Sophie’s annoyance and pursue it until the two would be laughing together. For example, one day Sophie came home, and Neil said to her “I hear you were walking across campus with a coffee”. When Sophie asked how do you know that Neil simply responded “Remember Sophie, I have eyes everywhere”

Neil has such good friends and Neil's family would like to stress, that please don’t become strangers. You are always welcome in Howth. We’ll be watching out to hear of your travels, your exploits, and your success. Life is short – challenge your self and enjoy the journey.