Victims of head-on collision laid to rest
Noted as having a great sense of humour, agricultural contractor Willie O’Donoghue, 44, would have approved of the send-off he got.
Model farm machinery lay on his coffin at the requiem Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mitchelstown. The coffin was then put on a tractor and trailer which took it on the short journey to Brigown graveyard.
Pupils from St Coleman’s College, Fermoy, came to support Mr O’Donoghue’s 14-year-old son, PJ. There were also representatives from the Gaelscoil in Fermoy, where his 10-year-old daughter, Mary, is a pupil.
Pupils and teachers came from Loreto Convent, Fermoy where Mr O’Donoghue’s wife, Bernadette, is a science teacher and his daughter, Gabrielle, aged 15, is a student. The Loreto Folk Group, under the direction of Sr Nuala Reidy, and accompanied by Marjorie Moran sung hymns.
Chief concelebrant Fr Michael Fitzgerald said Willie O’Donoghue was noted for his wit and good humour which brought smiles to everybody who knew him.
“Willie was a hardworking man, dedicated to his wife and family. He loved work and always sought ways to make progress,” said Fr Fitzgerald.
Meanwhile, the funeral took place in his native Kileedy Co Limerick of Michael Hallinan, aged 47, who was the other man to die in the Mitchelstown crash.
For many years he served in the Army, and was based in Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick.
He is survived by his wife, Noreen and their children, Michael, Joseph and Mary.
The removal took place to the parish church in Ashford, Co Limerick on Wednesday and the burial took place yesterday to the local Reilig Ide. His brother, Brendan, said: “Michael was a genuine friend to many.”
The parish priest of Kileedy, Fr Michael Culhane said Michael frequently visited his family and friends in the area.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the accident, who have not yet contacted them. Mitchelstown garda station (025) 84833.
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