“Heart and Soul”, this year’s annual talent show for Philipstown teenagers, is scheduled to be held at 7:00 PM at the Garrison School on Saturday, April 2, 2005. As noted in our local newspaper, “The show will be dedicated to Cailean Sheeran, former Garrison student, musician, and friend to many”.

The show will be directed by our wonderful friend, Patty Scecina, and will feature a special song to be sung for Cailean. Ticket proceeds will be donated to UNICEF for the Tsunami Relief Effort. Proceeds from refreshments served at intermission, a fifty/fifty raffle, and (hopefully) sales and/or orders taken for a CD of Cailean’s music – songs he wrote and played, as well as songs he loved, – will be donated to Neurological Lyme Disease research and Young Concert Artists Inc.

A number of Cailean’s friends are already aware of the show and are planning on participating in various ways. If you are interested in performing (even singing in the background on his special song), helping backstage, or assisting with the raffle and CD sales, please email me ( mesheeran@yahoo.com).
This should be a touching evening for honoring Cailean’s wonderful memory. As always, thank you for your comfort, support and interest. Maureen

Merry Christmas Cailean. We miss you very much. You pictures are all around our house and your memory is always in our heart. Take good care of your grandparents up there with you and of course Susie.

Diane Travis and family

Merry first Christmas in heaven K, I know your in a better place even though I can?t see you face, I love ya kid
Alex

Merry Christmas Buddy, I love you. It wouldn’t have been Christmas without a present for you under the tree this morning. I named a star in your memory, “Cailean Walker, Our Buddy.” That star shines for you and it always will. I’ll scan in the costellation map so everyone can see where it is.
Dex loves you too and gets so excited when he sees a picture of his uncle KK.

At this very sad holiday time, I thought I would offer some words of comfort to those who visit this site. They are words that give me some solace and I hope they will help you as well. — Always remember that Cailean is still with us and is watching over us. Most important, he is truly happy. Warm wishes to all with thanks for your comfort and support. Maureen

I have been meaning to express some further thoughts on Cailean as we near the year end and it?s holidays. It is hard to believe that he has been gone 7 months. And yet I wave to him everyday as I pass through the living room. I have discovered that everything in my life has been diminished by his absence, especially the good things. going to a nice restaurant is going without him; watching a movie is watching without him; going to Boston is going without him. The fact that he did not witness the Red Sox beat the Yankees or see the Pistons humiliate the Lakers with me is unthinkable. The idea of playing tennis without him simply does not exist.

About a week after his funeral, I was watching tv with Brittany when i changed the channel to a John Wayne movie called ?THE COWBOYS.? I had seen it a number of times and even liked it but I rarely discussed it or even thought of it because the Duke is sadistically killed by Bruce Dern which is contrary to the laws of nature, or at least my laws of nature. Anyway, we watched the dying scene where John Wayne revives himself just enough to declare to the young cowboys gathered around him ?every man wants to know that his son grows up to be a better person than his father was?..? I was very lucky to witness that moment because I realized that Cailean had achieved that goal for his father.

Yesterday it occurred to me that he and my father might meet in the ?afterlife”. I imagined them walking down a road in Ireland looking for the village where my father?s grandparents had been born. After Ireland, they would travel to Spicewood, Texas in order to visit Poodie?s Hilltop because my hero Billy Joe Shaver would be playing on New Year?s Eve. Billy Joe would invite Cailean on stage and he would be introduced to Eddy Shaver?s spirit. Together they would play guitar. Afterwards, Eddy invited my father and son to travel to Waco, Texas in order to visit the graves of his mother and Grandmother. Cailean would say yes but only if Eddy would agree to join them later as they traveled to Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. That is where his parents and his two sisters had spent their summers in the early 1980?s, unknowingly preparing for the arrival of their future son and brother, the person who would complete the family circle and in turn become the center of their universe: Cailean Walker Sheeran? the best ?BUDDY? there ever was. Thank you Cailean for blessing our lives. with love, John Sheeran. 12/15/2004

This holiday season is upon us and it will be a most
difficult one. Halloween even proved to be quite
emotional; I recalled Cailean’s delight in picking
his costumes ( Do you remember Ghostbuster, the
Jeffersonville fireman, Larry Byrd, Dracula, and the
many forms of aliens/monsters? ) and his enjoyment of
Trick or Treating.

It is unfathomable to believe that we have been
without Cailean for over half a year. I have to
believe that he is watching over us and sending us
signs to comfort us. He is indeed a presence every
minute of every day.

During this Thanksgiving week we would like to take
this opportunity to express our appreciation for:

* family and friends who have reached out to
comfort us with words of comfort and support, prayers,
invitations, and efforts to make us smile. We thank Mariel
and Matt for creating this website as a forum to read
and write about Cailean.

* the memories we have of Cailean – his sly smile,
clever wit, musical talent and love of music, kindred
spirit, his love and quiet appreciation of family,
friends, and holiday traditions

* the legacy Cailean left behind. No matter who I
talk to there are common comments that people make
about our son and brother – that he was very kind,
friendly, talented and funny. I’m sure that he is very
pleased with this description. As his parent, I
couldn’t be prouder.

We cherish every moment we had with Cailean – he was a
special person who touched many with his love, charm,
and unique personality.

Its been six months now since Cailean passed away and the fact that we’ll never get to see his smiling face, listen to him jam on his guitar, or just have him there to goof off with sets in more and more each day. I am not a religious person at all, but I do believe that there are ‘angels’ on this Earth that you meet in everyday life. They always manage to put a smile on your face even in the darkest of times and it always feels good to be around them. Cailean always had that effect on me and still now just the thought of him makes my hardest days seem that much easier to take. I have so many memories and such affection for him that putting up this website seemed like something I had to do for myself to get through the loss of my brother and to make sure the memory of him is passed on. When it started, I thought the website would just be someplace I could go when I needed to remember Cailean, not really imagining that so many other s would come and visit. I am glad that so many of you have come to look at pictures and read about Cailean. Thank you to those that have posted their own thoughts and memories–every one has touched me and my entire family. I hope to reorganize the entire site some time in the near future and if anyone needs help posting please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. mariel@slowburn.net