The boyfriend of Ashling Murphy has told mourners that his girlfriend “will always be my soulmate and is the greatest love of my life.”
Ryan Casey addressed hundreds of people who gathered at the cemetery as the Murphy family said goodbye to the 23 year-old school teacher who was fatally attacked while out jogging last week.
Ashling Murphy and Ryan Casey had been in a relationship for five years and pictures of the couple were displayed throughout the funeral mass and ceremony.
Addressing the crowd at the cemetery, a heartbroken Ryan Casey broke down in tears when he told the crowd that his girlfriend Ashling was the light of all their lives.
He said Ashling loved her mother Kathleen, her father Ray, her big sister Amy and brother Cathal. She was “always there and always willing to help and put herself last.”
He said Ashling was “so much more to me than a girlfriend", adding “she is my soulmate, will always be my soulmate, she is the greatest love of my life.”
Mr Casey, comforted by family said he will “cherish” the last five years they spent together.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Church St Brigid, Mount bolous Co Offaly on Tuesday to pay their respects to the 23-year old who was fatally attacked while out jogging last week.
Crowds gathered outside the church from 9am including first class pupils that Ashling taught in Durrow National School.
They held pictures of their teacher and red roses as the funeral cortège entered the church grounds.
Symbols representing Ashling’s live of music and sport were brought to the altar.
These included a musical instrument, a photograph of Ashling, a camogie stick and a Kilcormac Killoughey GAA jersey, and a family photograph.
They were placed beside a family photograph taken on Ashling’s graduation day.
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina embraced the broken Murphy family.
Ashling’s father, Ray Murphy held onto Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s arm while Mr Martin paid his respect to the family.
All female Cabinet Ministers also attended the funeral mass.
