Thousands of people attended the Church of the Assumption in Thomastown to mourn the death of Vanessa McGarry. Mourners began to gather at the church an hour before the service and by 11am on the day, there were hundreds standing outside in the grey drizzle. Chief celebrant Fr Peter Muldowney remembered Vanessa as a refined but bubbly woman who was often seen collecting her son Darragh from school. "She always had something to say and always knew when to stop," he added. Fr Muldowney noted that Vanessa and her husband James, who married just six months ago, were preparing to build a new home in Thomastown near her parents' home. "Then somehow, all those wonderful plans changed in the blink of an eye." Later, Fr Muldowney voiced the thoughts of many when he mused; "It all seems so unfair. It all seems so unjust. There really is nothing to say and no words to describe it. I do not have answers. I am powerless. I am speechless." Earlier, during the funeral mass, gifts brought to the altar included a large photograph of Vanessa carried by her son Darragh. the Kilkenny, Thomastown and Bennettsbridge jerseys and cosmetics representing Vanessa's sense of style. Fr Muldowney compared the death to a powercut. "The radio goes silent and the TV goes blank. We are left feeling frightened and scared, helpless and powerless. A sudden death is like that blackout. We would like to fix it and make it better, but we can't, all we can do is sit and weep." Perhaps the most heartbreaking moment in a day of heart-breaking moments came as eleven year old Darragh and James McGarry stood side-by-side behind the hearse as it prepared to begin its journey to the cemetery. Minutes earlier Darragh had placed flowers spelling out the word 'Mam' on the coffin. Darragh, still bandaged on his face and right hand, and James, clutching a photograph of Vanessa, comforted one another flanked by other grieving members of the family including Vanessa's parents Liam and Chrissie, sister Bernie and brothers Liam and Terry along with James's parents Seamus and Eileen and his three sisters Angela, Siobhain and Samantha. A guard of honour was formed by the under-14 Thomastown hurling club, Bennettsbridge GAA club and Kilkenny players before the cortege began its journey to St Mary's cemetery where Vanessa was buried. Among the senior hurlers were James McGarry's cousin DJ Carey, senior hurling manager Brian Cody, GAA President Nickey Brennan, County Board Chairman Ned Quinn and Secretary Pat Dunphy. The church was equally crowded on Saturday evening for Vanessa's removal. At that service, Fr Dan Bollard urged the congregation to take heed of ads warning people to drive carefully. "Make sure you never cause this pain to anyone else," Fr Bollard told mourners. "We turn away from these graphic ads, but that's the way it is." The parish priest, who was among the first people to rush to the scene of the accident close to the Long Man of Kilfane, told the congregation that he felt "useless" when he arrived at the crash scene. "I gave absolution where I could, but when families and friends arrived, I felt helpless. I felt useless. What can we do but say a few awkward words? But at least we can let James and Darragh know they have our support now and in the days ahead. Courtesy of The Kilkenny People. 27 July 2007. Tweet

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