Hundreds gathered in the Galway village of Headford this afternoon to pay their respects following the death of young teenager, Kirsty Bohan - a talented artist, GAA player and much-loved and popular girl who was "just beginning to spread her wings" in life.
Kirsty, from the nearby area of Ballyfruit, and her schoolfriend Lukas Joyce, also aged 14, were tragically killed in a horror crash on Easter Monday that also left two other teenagers seriously injured.
The second year student at Presentation College Headford was laid to rest in Donaghpatrick Cemetery following her requiem mass at midday on Friday. She is survived by her parents Christy and Theresa, as well as her sisters Martha and Ava.
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Galway Beo reports that Fr Vivian Loughrey led the ceremony with students from Kirsty's school lining the church and road in a guard of honour as her family and young friends said goodbye for the last time.
Kirsty's life was remembered at the start of the mass by her sister Ava, who brought up a Sylane jersey and a hurley from her local club. Kirsty wore the number seven jersey in her last club game for the side only last week.
The young teen's makeup bag and perfume were also presented to show her "creative talent and love for fashion and beauty", as loved ones joked that while Kirsty was "always the first one up, she was the last one out the door."
Kirsty was a well-known young woman with friends scattered all over Galway and south Mayo.
Her popularity was highlighted when her dad Christy joked that one day when she was late for school, he had told the teen "if you don't hurry on, I'll send you to Ballinrobe school in Mayo" to which she quickly replied "Dad, I'll have loads of friends there too".
A toy tractor and truck, representing her love for machinery and her dad's career, a selection of her paintings showing off the teen's talented work and her headphones were also brought to the altar with mourners told of her love for pop stars Amy MacDonald and Taylor Swift.
Instead of a traditional eulogy, one of Kirsty's favourite songs - This Is The Life by Amy MacDonald - was played before a serenity prayer as she was brought to her final resting place.
Lukas Joyce will be laid to rest in Annaghdown Cemetery tomorrow, with Requiem Mass scheduled for 12pm at St Brendan’s Church, Annaghdown.
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