‘To Paige, I hope you are all right’

CHILDREN’S prayers to a classmate who died tragically spoke more eloquently than anybody else, a priest said yesterday at the funeral Mass of little Paige Corcoran in Nenagh.

Paige, 6, died on Monday from a head injury she sustained the previous day when accidentally hit on the head by a golf putter while out playing with friends.

She died at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital where she had been on a life support machine.

Mourners were led at yesterday’s Mass of the Angels in St Mary’s of the Rosary Church by her parents, PJ and Pearl and sister Jade.

Children from St Mary’s Convent primary school where Paige was a first class pupil, wept as prayers they specially wrote were read out by Fr Anthony McMahon.

He said the prayers of children were very powerful and more eloquent than anything adults could say.

Some of the prayers read: “To Paige, I hope you are all right, from Grace.”

“I miss you and I am sorry for you, Vicky.”

“I hope you have a good time in heaven, from Caroline.”

Fr McMahon said the entire community had been affected in by the passing of Paige.

He said: “Words are very hard to find that can console or explain or change what we are facing. We are remembering today your beautiful daughter, sister and friend and she was indeed very beautiful. A bright, cheerful and fun loving girl, she loved playing and being with her family and friends. She loved camogie and all sports and games, anything with a ball. One teacher said of her that ‘every day was a tracksuit day for Paige, she was a delight to teach’. She wanted to be active and full of life.”

It is almost impossible to avoid accidents, he said, and he was also puzzled as to why these things happen. Fr McMahon said the last few days will be etched into the community always.

“We thank Paige for what she has taught us and gave us. We all love more because of her,” he said. Paige’s white coffin was interred in Lisboney cemetery.