Tributes pour in as community rally to support loved ones of David O’Callaghan

Tributes have been paid to David O’Callaghan, the 21-year-old whose body was found in Boyle earlier this week, as the local community rallies to support his grieving family.

David, originally from Dublin but living in Mohill, Co Leitrim, had been missing since Saturday, August 9. He was last seen in the Boyle area, prompting extensive searches over several days before the operation was stood down on Wednesday, August 13, following the discovery of his body.

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A search was also carried out in Longford, joined by family, friends, and local volunteers. Drones were used to scan open ground and hard-to-reach areas from the air, while teams on foot covered key locations in and around the town.

A GoFundMe appeal, launched by Tegan, a close friend of David’s partner, has already raised more than €5,000 to help his family through this difficult time. In her tribute on the fundraiser page, Tegan remembered David as someone who “could light up any room — quick with a joke, ready to listen, and always there when you needed him (or when he needed to borrow a tenner).”

David’s partner, Leanne Lupton, also shared a deeply emotional tribute on social media, saying her heart was “shattered” by his passing. She described him as “a wonderful man” who was “loved by everyone.”

“He wasn’t just the happiest person in the room, he was the room’s light,” Ms Lupton wrote. “Wherever he went, laughter followed. He carried a warmth that wrapped itself around everyone he met — a rare kind of spirit that made strangers feel like friends and friends feel like family.”

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Friends, neighbours, and members of the wider community have been sharing their condolences and memories online, remembering David as a warm, kind-hearted young man who touched the lives of many.

The GoFundMe page can be found at gofundme.com/f/ david-ocallaghan.