Two communities mourn nun who died on Kerry beach

The death of Sr Paula Buckley in a double tragedy at Inch Strand last week in Kerry had left two families in mourning, the chief celebrant at her funeral Mass said yesterday.

“She belonged to two communities,” Fr Joe Egan told hundreds of mourners in Cashel. “Her own blood family and the Presentation family. You are both in mourning today and we sincerely sympathise with you.”

Fr Egan said that, on the day of Sr Paula’s death, he had earlier received in the post an invitation from her to an event due to take place next month celebrating 50 years since she joined the Presentation Order. “It wasn’t to be,” he said. Mourners at yesterday’s funeral Mass included Sr Paula’s sister, Marie and brother-in-law John, as well as her nieces, nephews and other relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbours.