Victim of New Year’s Eve car crash recalled as ‘gift from God’ at funeral Mass

The funeral has taken place of Saoirse Corrigan, who was one of the victims of a car crash at the weekend that killed three people.

Ms Corrigan (21) died along with her boyfriend Shane Gilchrist (23) when their car was in a collision with one driven by Julieanne Kehoe (27), who also died in the crash.

The incident occured on the N52 outside Kells, Co Meath, at 4.15pm on New Year's Eve.

A photograph of Saoirse and Shane together was placed on the altar during the funeral Mass at St John The Baptist church, Whitehall, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, on Wednesday. The couple were from Castlepollard, and Ms Corrigan had served as an altar server at the church.

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Ms Corrigan was a secondary school teacher at St Clare's College in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, and many from the school attended the funeral Mass. St Clare's College will remain closed on Thursday as a mark of respect.

Among the other items laid on the altar were her school diary symbolising her love of learning, her make-up, the green and yellow flag of the local Ringtown GAA club, and her mobile phone, the latter “for all the Insta updates and selfies”, the ceremony heard.

The chief mourners were her father and mother, Michael and Orlene, brothers Andi, Keri, Cathal and Cillian and sisters Brónagh and Gráinne.

Parish priest Fr Patrick Moore said everybody mourned the passing of someone so young and in such tragic circumstances.

He had heard her First Confession and given her First Communion.

Ms Corrigan gave “joy to her friends, family members, work colleagues . . . She was a gift from God for all these people and for the world. Today we commend her eternal soul back to God,” he said.

Mr Gilchrist’s funeral takes place on Thursday at 11.30am at St Michael’s Church, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath.