By Gordon Deegan

The mother of 16-year-old student, TJ Chambers has told mourners that TJ loved to care for his animals and produce good stock.

At the St. John the Baptist church in Ballyea on Friday afternoon (January 2, 2026), TJ Chambers’ twin passions for farming and hurling featured prominently at his funeral mass.

At the mass, Suzanne Chambers also told the mourners that she and TJ's father, Tomás “are completely and utterly heartbroken with what has just happened to our perfect little family”.

Suzanne Chambers addressed her son when she said: “Mammy and Daddy would give anything to swap with you TJ.

“We are so sorry we couldn’t save you. We tried our best. We love you so much and we are completely and utterly heartbroken with what has just happened to our perfect little family.

Both parents took to the altar at the start of the mass to speak to the congregation and TJ’s father Tomás said: “We are heartbroken but God will give us the strength to get through this. Thank you.”

On behalf of the family, Tomás Chambers thanked “everyone for the massive support over the last few days”. 

He said: “It has been truly amazing the support we have received from everyone near and far.”

Tractor accident in Clare

Last Saturday afternoon, TJ Chambers - who was due to turn 17 next month - died at the scene of a single-vehicle crash involving a tractor which occurred on the R458 at Bunnahow, north of Crusheen, Co. Clare.

In her words to the packed congregation, Suzanne Chambers revealed that “we had just enjoyed a few days away at Center Parcs when this nightmare happened”.

She added that the “apple of TJ’s eye”, his four-year-old sister, Laoise got TJ into some beautiful family photos on the Center Parcs trip “and we will now treasure them forever”.

A student at St. Flannan’s College in Ennis and minor hurler for Ballyea, TJ’s twin passions for hurling and farming featured prominently in the funeral mass.

Suzanne Chambers said that there was excitement each spring when TJ and his father Tomás would look to find nice quality calves online and their trips to buy the calves would take the family all over the country.

She also said that during TJ’s TY year last year at St. Flannans College, he was delighted to do work experience at Clare Marts and another week at a dairy farm “which he enjoyed immensely”.

She said that TJ had keen interests in farming and accountancy while two of the items brought up to the altar to symbolise TJ’s life were plans for his agricultural science project for his Leaving Cert and his beef genetic book where he loved to produce good cattle.

GAA

Clare All-Ireland winning captain, Tony Kelly and former All-Star, Tony Griffin were just two members of a large contingent of Ballyea GAA to attend the mass as part of a community wide show of support for the Chambers family. 

One of TJ’s under-age coaches at Ballyea GAA, Catherine O’Loughlin told mourners it was a dream of TJ to follow in the footsteps of TK (Tony Kelly) and other senior hurlers who, she said, were part of a golden era of success for the Ballyea senior hurling team.

Ms. O’Loughlin said that she had the privilege of coaching TJ from u10s to his last training session on December 14 adding that TJ “was a model player and a true leader on the field where he let his hurling do the talking”.

She said that TJ “was hugely dedicated - first to training and last to leave”.

She told the congregation that TJ reached County A finals at u-13, u-15 and u-16 and played in a Féile A final with Ballyea and that TJ also represented St. Flannan’s in this year’s Dean Ryan hurling competition.

Fr. Pat Malone told mourners that “disbelief and shock began to register with people” last Saturday as work began to filter through over the tragedy.

He said: “There are no perfect words for a time like this - the suffering, the shock, the hurt is so devastating, overwhelming and so deep that words cannot reach into them."

Addressing the Chambers family, Fr. Malone said: “Nothing I say will lessen your loss but know this - this entire community stands with you, prays for you and carries this burden with you and will be there for you when you need them.”

Fr. Malone said that TJ lived his 16 years of life fully and engaged with life enthusiastically and brought great joy to those he knew and loved.

TJ Chambers was later laid to rest at Ballyea Church grounds.