The two teenage cousins who drowned in a late-night boating tragedy early on Saturday have been buried.
Requiem Mass for Clarie Steele (16) and Rory McAlinden (18) was celebrated yesterday in their home town of Castlewellan, Co Down.
The pair were found dead in Castlewellan lake on Saturday after an 11-hour search. A friend of the teenagers who was with them when their canoe capsized about 1am on Saturday managed to swim ashore and raise the alarm. He was unhurt but has been treated for shock.
The small town came to a halt as matching coffins bearing the remains of the teenagers were carried along the silent Main Street to St Malachy's Catholic church.
About 1,000 mourners, including the dead teenagers' parents and family, packed the church, with hundreds more outside.
Clair Steele's nine brothers and sisters were present alongside Rory McAlinden's brother and sister.
A guard of honour was provided by Castlewellan GAA club where both victims had been active members.
Local political representatives, the police and rescue services were also represented.
The remains were received by parish priest Fr Sean Cahill, who also welcomed clergy from neighbouring parishes, the Rev Brian Cadden from St Paul's Church of Ireland in the town and the congregation of Castlewellan Presbyterian Church.
Fr Cahill spoke of the bereaved parents, who had prayed in the same church on Good Friday just hours before the tragedy.
Referring to the decision by the teenagers to socialise by the lake late on Friday night, he said that "socialising led to adventure, and adventure to tragedy".
Generations of Castlewellan people had spent time by the lake in their younger days, he added.
"Parents, mothers, fathers say, with good reason, 'it could have been us a generation ago'," Fr Cahill said.
He congratulated the hundreds of young mourners on their dignified guard of honour. "I want to talk to you, each of you personally, about other sorts of honour to be guarded," he said.
"You are required by your Christian faith to honour your own life, and to honour your parents who gave you, within God's plan, your life. I want you to take that message from this funeral Mass. I want it to be Rory's and Clair's message to you.
"Honour your own life, honour those who gave you life, honour the life of God within you, honour your faith by living it in the life of grace God gives you."
He commended the charitable work carried out by the young of the parish, especially the support offered for mission work in Zambia.
On behalf of the families, Fr Cahill also thanked the PSNI, the rescue services and all who helped search for and recover the bodies, before thanking the press for the "discreet coverage" of the tragedy.
The coffins were buried close to each other at Aughlisnafin Cemetery a short distance away.