Tributes have been paid to Dublin teenager Cillian Flaherty, a third-year student at Blakestown Community School in Blanchardstown, who has died at the age of 15.
Cillian had been set to appear alongside his family on the upcoming series of RTÉ’s Ireland’s Fittest Family after they competed in the show this summer. The broadcaster confirmed the programme has been postponed following the news of Cillian’s death.
In a statement, RTÉ said: “The broadcast of the new series of Ireland’s Fittest Family, originally scheduled to begin this Sunday night, has now been postponed following the death of one of this year’s participants subsequent to the completion of the series. RTÉ and Kite/Animo productions wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family and friends at this time.
“Further details regarding the broadcast of the series will be provided in due course.”
In a statement issued yesterday, the school said Cillian was a popular student who “will be hugely missed”.
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“It is with great sadness that we are sharing the news of the untimely passing of one of our third-year students, Cillian Flaherty,” it said.
“This has come as a huge shock to our whole school community. Our sincere sympathies are with Cillian’s family and friends at this time.
“Cillian was a very popular member of our school community and we know that he will be hugely missed by all those who knew him.
“We are supporting students here in school while dealing with this tragic event and we aim to send on some information, at a later date, that might assist you in supporting your children through this difficult time at home.”
Tributes have been paid to Cillian from across the footballing community in Dublin. He was a member of the under-16 team at the Mountview Boys and Girls Football Club based in the Dublin 15 area.
The Dublin and District Schoolboys’/Girls’ League said: “The thoughts of all the footballing community are with Cillian’s family, friends and all at MBG FC at this time.”
Mulhuddart Football Club, also based in Dublin 15, offered its condolences to Cillian’s family and friends.
One local in the Dublin 15 area described the teenager as a “really nice kid who will be sorely missed”.
“The whole area will be devastated by this news,” they said.
“He was so young and was one of those kids that had the whole world ahead of him. He was super-fit. Like his family. So it was no surprise that he and his family appeared on the hit show.”