The mother of a young woman killed in a car crash in Co Donegal insisted on being released from hospital to be at her daughter’s side one last time for her funeral mass.
Mary McDermott lay on a medical trolley just feet from the coffin of her daughter Donna during her funeral mass at St Mary’s Church in Ballybrack, Moville, on Wednesday.
Mary was the driver of the car in which Donna died following a two-car collision at Quigley’s Point on Friday night last.
Donna, who was in her 30s, was the fifth person to die on Donegal’s roads in just 13 days.
Mum Mary, who is in her 70s, suffered her own injuries in the crash and has been receiving medical attention since.
But on Wednesday, accompanied by medical staff, she was determined to be by Donna’s side once again to say a last goodbye to a daughter she loved so much.
Donna, from Ballymacarthur in Greencastle, was a familiar face in the seaside town as she worked for many years in the local Centra Store.
Amongst the large congregation were many of Donna’s former colleagues from the shop who this week described her as “the life and soul” of the store.
Donna’s brothers and sister Brendan, Brian, Richard and Danielle also comforted eachother as they tried to come to terms with their sister’s unexpected loss.
The deceased woman’s father, Brendan, with whom she was very close, died four years ago from cancer.
Before the mass began, symbols of Donna’s life were brought to the altar.
They included a framed family picture, a Moville GAA jersey and a set of darts.
A huge crowd attended Donna's wake in recent days, the hushed congregation heard.
Fr Colm O’Doherty said it was simply impossible to find the right words on occasions like this when a young life was taken away.
The local parish priest revealed it was himself who administered the last rights to Donna by the roadside at Quigley’s Point following the tragedy.
He said “The moving point for me was when I was kneeling down beside Donna and members of the emergency services formed a circle around me in prayer.
“I’d like to thank them for the help and dignity they showed to Donna. That just showed how special this community is.
"They rally around and cannot do enough for any family in need. It’s a reminder of a special gift of togetherness – never underestimate that.”
He said that everyone knew Donna was a “live wire” and that it was her personality who endeared her to so many during her relatively short life.
She loved sports and played a range of different ones, including GAA, soccer, basketball and darts.
Fr O’Doherty had a special word for Donna’s former work colleagues at Centra in Moville, referring to the wonderful tribute they left for her on social media earlier in the week.
“It’s a pity that Donna did not realise fully how much she was loved. She mattered most to her own family and it’s so good to see wee Mary here today, and I’d like to wish her a speedy recovery from her injuries. I hope she can take comfort from the community here today.”
Donna’s coffin was led from St Mary’s Church to the sounds of ‘My Donegal’ to be buried in Ballybrack Graveyard.
