Hundreds of people walked in silence the short distance from Mary Lonergan's home in Kellymount to the church of the Assumption in Paulstown on Saturday night. The shock, grief and deep sadness was palpable as family and friends tried to come to terms with the death of the 49-year-old mother of two. Mary, who was a native of Paulstown was tragically killed on Thursday morning near Kilfane in Thomastown. The community was waiting at the church to pay their respects to mary who was the life and soul of the village. Parish priest Fr Larry Malone told the Kilkenny People that there had been an overwhelming outpouring of grief since the accident which also climbed the life of another young mother Vanessa McGarry. "There was a huge crowd at mary's removal on Saturday and again at the funeral Mass on Sunday. We could have filled the church several times over. We were all drawn together by the sadness of the whole event," he said. Fr Malone spoke to the congregation about Mary's wonderful personality and how she was a huge part of the community. "She was a very joyful person and was always there to the fore. She was open and people were drawn to her company. If there is one word which could describe Mary it is happy. She could relate well to everyone, both the young and the old. She is a huge loss and there is a void left in our community." he added. Symbols of Mary's life were brought to the altar. They included a beautiful family photograph taken at her daughter Louise's Holy Communion, a sliotar and a hurley and a Barrow Rangers shirt symbolising her love of GAA, a Connolly's shirt where she worked for the past 32 years and flowers from her garden. Her cousin Fr Paddy Byrne and Fr Sean O'Laoighaire were also involved in the funeral Mass. The choir from Paulstown and Goresbridge also sang at the funeral Mass. A guard of honour was formed by different groups, Barrow Rangers, the boxing club, connolly's Bagenalstown, the camogie club and Scoil Bhride Primary School. As a mark of respect the flags were flying at half mast at the local GAA pitch. As Mary was carried from the church to her final resting place at the New Cemetery in Paulstown, a lone piper was the only sound to be heard as mourners walked in silence to the graveyard. After the burial, members of the community served refreshments in the sports hall as thy remembered a woman who will never be forgotten. Courtesy of The Kilkenny People. July 2007 Tweet

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