By Michelle Crean

A Killarney man who is much loved for his musical talent has paid a wonderful and very special tribute to his young teenage brother who tragically died in July.

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14-year-old Thomas Healy from the Gap of Dunloe, sang his brother's self-penned song 'Christmas Without You (Candle on the Window)' just weeks before he passed away unexpectedly in an accident on Ross Road.

However, his eldest brother, Jack Patrick Healy, only recently heard the video existed and decided to create a duet of them singing together to fulfil a promise they made to record it.

Thomas' beautiful tones are mixed with Jack's and it has since been released online for free.

"Myself and Thomas made a deal that we would record it together," Jack, who has been living in London for the last three years, told the Killarney Advertiser.

"However, because of COVID it never happened."

In 2009 Jack wrote the song after being "thrown out" of maths class one day in the Intermediate School in Killorglin. He was aged 15, the same age Thomas would have turned this December 27.

"I was sitting outside in the hallway and I was writing chords and the lyrics were just coming to me. I was listening to Christmas songs and they're all happy but not everyone is happy at Christmas time, and thinking of my mother who has a tradition of the candle in the window at Christmas."

Himself and Thomas sang the song each year in Sol y Sombra in Killorglin in aid of the local hospice branch but sadly never got the chance to get to the studio together.

Seven weeks ago Jack received a message from one of Thomas' friends saying there was a video he needed to see.

There, he saw Thomas singing his song which is especially poignant given how close it's getting to Christmas.

Then Jack decided to keep their promise and using modern music technology recorded their voices together as a duet in the most amazing and special way.

"I listened to it and I said I have got to do something with it," Jack said. "He had his own way of singing and it's lovely. I took his voice and my voice and put it together. I'm very proud of it, and it's a lot of healing for mom and dad [Julie and Ger]."

And the song is not for sale, he added.

"I'm not selling it. It's up online for people to listen to. If it can give one family a bit strength I've given something from myself and Thomas."

To listen to the special duet go to Facebook: Jack Patrick Healy.