Funeral hears Leaving Cert student (18) who died in Co Tipperary collision already bought her Debs dress
Brónagh English, a Leaving Cert student who died when the car she was driving hit a wall and entered a river in Co Tipperary on Thursday night last 'already had her Debs dress picked out' was laid to rest on Tuesday.
The Rockwell College student, died following the incident at Kilaldry Bridge in the townland of Kilmoyler on Thursday night.
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Gardai were alerted after Ms English failed to return to her home in Clonmel on Thursday night.
Her oak coffin adorned with a white and pink Gerbera and Lily floral wreath, was carried into St John the Baptist Church, Powerstown, Clonmel, Co Tipperary for midday Requiem Mass to the strains of Somewhere over the Rainbow.
At the end of the ceremony her younger sister Mia described Brónagh as her, ' "best friend and beautiful sister. Having Brónagh as my sister was really the dream. We will always remember you Brónagh, your gorgeous pretty smile we will always carry with us, day by day and mile by mile. You will never know how much we miss you. Rest in peace up there in heaven.'
Her emotional father, Michael, supported by his wife Danielle, also spoke about their eldest child and the last time they saw her.
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'This is an absolutely dreadful time. Bronagh left the house at 8pm last Thursday. Studied all day, did a maths grind. She told her mum she would see her in 20 minutes and that was the end of our Bró last Thursday. She was a wonderful child we loved her to pieces.
"Myself and Danielle noticed something special about Bróagh in the early days in fact we thought there was something wrong.. She was too normal. She had something.
"She lived in the now and in the present. She was in the moment. She communicated with you. She was just a wonderful child. She asked for nothing and got everything.
'To her best friends 'The Rats' I'm not sure where that name came from, they spent every weekend in our house. Brónagh loved her six years in Rockwell. These are horrific times. To her two wonderful brothers, she is so proud of you and her sister Mia also.'
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Fr Peter Ahearne, who concelebrated the funeral mass with 10 other priests, told mourners: "Our hearts are weighed down by grief for Brónagh. We gather in great sorrow and shock as tragedy leaves us speechless.
'All our hearts go out in sympathy to Bronagh's family. At a time like this any words that we can use cannot really ease the pain and trauma they are going through. Their world of happiness has been shattered.
'A sword will pierce your own soul too, and this symbolises the great shock and pain the family are going through. Parents take their children to the church to be baptised.
"Brónagh for her family, was a sacred gift. She radiated joy, love, joy and friendship for family and friends. When a young person dies, an image of flowers comes to mind.
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'There are always flowers which blossom before others, they have come to perfection, they are symbols of love.
"When young people die young something similar takes place. Brónagh in her short life, has achieved perfection. Brónagh left her family some wonderful memories. She was generous and shared her friendship with so many."
Fr Ahearne recounted how his many memories of the 18-year-old 'started way, way back'.
He recalled: 'She came to church when she was young, she came to Sunday School with her Mum Danielle, she made her first penance, first communion and confirmation here.
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"She was good at coming to mass. This church is her spiritual home. In her short years, she lived a full life. She loved sport, dancing and giving her time to her friends. She was looking forward to sitting her Leaving Cert, She had her Debs dress picked out. She had her own dreams for the future.
'These are moments when we need hope, her life was cut down at a young age. Moments when the normal cycle of life is interrupted these are times when we need love and strength. Brónagh will live on in the minds and hearts of her loved ones always.'
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Her family members brought up gifts which symbolised the Leaving Cert student's life. Photos of her with her family were presented as mourners heard she brightened up every family party with her smile and sense of fun.
Other gifts included a pair of ski goggles, as she loved the slopes from where she had just returned, a fishing rod which represented a wonderful holiday to the Amazon Rainforest where she caught 13 fish and became famous amongst the locals, dancing shoes as she had a flare for ballroom dancing, her school jumper, as Rockwell was a special place for her, and photos of great friends.
Ms English is survived by her parents Michael and Danielle, sister Mia, brothers Mikey and David, grandparents Greta and Donie Ormonde and Carmel and her recently deceased husband John English. The teenager was laid to rest in the adjoining church graveyard.
President Michael D Higgins was represented by his aide-de-camp.
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