Hundreds gathered in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan on Saturday to pay tribute to friends Chloe McGee (23) and, at a later service, Shay Duffy (21) who died in a car crash in Co Louth last weekend.
The funeral of Ms McGee, at St Joseph’s Church, heard how friends remembered her as a “bubby character with infectious laughter and smiles that could light up any room”.
Mr Duffy was described as “the best brother ever” by his younger brother Vinnie, at his funeral mass at Saint Patrick’s Church, Rockchapel.
President Catherine Connolly and the Taoiseach’s Aide de Camp, Commandant Joe Glennan, who represented Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris, were among those in attendance at both services.
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Monsignor Shane McCaughey, who led Ms McGee’s funeral mass, said she was born into a loving farming family and had “excelled” at Inver College, Carrickmacross, where she was head girl and Student of the Year.
She graduated from University Limerick and began teaching at Ó Fiaich Institute, her “dream job”, and where she was recently made permanent.
Msgr McCaughey said faith was “central to her being” while sports, Macra na Feirme and farming were her hobbies.
Students from Ó Fiaich Institute lined the streets of Carrickmacross, as did members of Macra na Feirme.
[ The five young people killed in Co Louth crash Opens in new window ]
In a communion reflection, Ms McGee’s brother Aaron said “the ordinary turned into the unthinkable” in one moment.
He said his sister and her boyfriend, Alan McCluskey (23), who also died in the collision, had “a way of becoming children” whenever they were together – “playful and unfiltered”.
[ An adventurous spirit carried Dylan Commins ‘through every chapter of his life’Opens in new window ]
“Rest gently, Chloe. You are missed in ways words can only try to hold,” he said.
Offertory gifts included Ms McGee’s car keys, photographs, a cowboy hat, her passport and a jersey from Ó Fiaich Institute. Ms McGee is survived by her parents Kieran and Eileen and siblings Stephen, Aaron and Nicola.
Later on Saturday, the funeral service of Mr Duffy heard “how fragile and unpredictable life can be” and despite now being “forever 21”, how the young man had lived a “very full and impactful life”.
He had undertaken an apprenticeship in plumbing, completing his studies at Technological University of the Shannon in Athlone and Dundalk Institute of Technology, Father Ben Hughes told the congregation.
Mr Duffy was “a genius in the restoration of cars and tractors”, he said, and was “an initiator who was project driven, always on the go, confident and a problem solver”.
His younger brother Ben said Mr Duffy was the “best brother to me and Vinnie”. “I will miss not seeing you but I know you will be watching over us,” he said.
“Thank you for everything you did for us, especially getting us sweets and jerseys. We will love you forever”.
A guard of honour was formed by members of Magheracloone Mitchell’s GAA club, Carrick Rovers AFC and Scoil Bhride, where Mr Duffy attended.
Offertory gifts included photographs, a pair of brown boots and work trousers, his watch, phone and aftershave.
Mr Duffy is survived by his parents Raymond and Carmel, and younger brothers Vinnie and Ben.
In a memorial booklet handed out at the church, Mr Duffy’s parents said they wanted to give “a heartfelt thanks” to family, friends, the community and all those who had supported them over the last week.
“Your care and kindness has touched us deeply and will never be forgotten,” they said.
The five friends were travelling together in a Volkswagen Golf on their way for a night out in Dundalk when their car collided with a Toyota Landcruiser last Saturday night.
The funerals of Mr McCluskey and Dylan Commins (23) took place on Friday. Chloe Hipson (21), who was from Scotland and living in Co Monaghan, was also killed in the incident.
