Finglas mourns Grace Lynch as priest warns of ‘mad youngsters’ on scramblers

The community of Finglas came out in their hundreds on Friday morning to stand in solidarity with the Lynch family as they celebrated their daughter’s life at St Oliver Plunkett's church in Finglas. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin

The funeral mass of teenager Grace Lynch, who died after being struck by a scrambler, has heard that the vehicles are being driven by “mad youngsters full of bravado and daredevil behaviour”. 

Fr Seamus Aherne was speaking at the funeral service of the young woman who died on Sunday at around 2.30pm while out walking near her home in Finglas, north Dublin.

Grace's mother Siobhan said her daughter was “loved by so many people” and “only starting her life”.

The community of Finglas came out in their hundreds on Friday morning to stand in solidarity with the Lynch family as they celebrated their daughter’s life at St Oliver Plunkett's church in Finglas.

Hundreds came out to mourn the schoolgirl as lamp posts were also decorated with red ribbons, Grace’s favourite colour. A number of mourners wore red and some of her friends and family wore red bows in their hair.

Grace’s fellow students at St Michael’s secondary school, where she was a fifth-year student, released red balloons into the sky as the funeral cortege passed the school and paused for a moment.

Ms Lynch said the family’s lives will “never be the same again”.

“Grace was loved by so many people, and she loved so many people back,” she said.

“She had a way about her that would make you feel happy just to be around her. She was always laughing at nothing.

“She was only starting her life, and she was so in love with her boyfriend, Harry, who I like to call Dumb and Dumber.

“If you were blessed to have known Grace, you would have known how funny and bubbly and kind she was.” 

She added: “We will miss you forever, and we love you forever. You’re in the arms of the angels now Grace. Life will never be the same. I love you, baby.”

Fr Aherne described the accident that killed Grace as “horrendous” and said “the lives of all here have been deeply affected”.

"It’s like a volcano erupting. Part of the feelings of pain, hurt, anger, fear, loss, hate, and blame are true," he said.

"Many will blame the gardaí and the Government for not doing enough. All of those feelings are valid, and the lava is pouring out on everyone.

"This beautiful girl is dead. Grace has gone. The family is shattered. Young Josh came upon the accident and cradled Grace in his jumper. Young Harry [Grace's boyfriend] can never make sense of what has happened.

"Everyone is affected and here are my general comments.

Those motorbikes racing around our community are dangerous. Those mad youngsters full of bravado and daredevil behaviour, screaming around and weaving through traffic will kill and be killed. 

"But it’s not just the motorbikes, those driving around at present in black clothes, without lights, and no hi viz jackets will kill and be killed.

"So, if there might be a single, simple change or a chance for a change, maybe something follows on from last Sunday evening."

Along the route to her funeral mass, lampposts were decorated in red ribbons marking the teenager's favourite colour. Many of the mourners wore the same colour. 

Students formed a guard of honour leading into the church, while members of Dublin Fire Brigade were also in attendance. There was no standing room left in the church for the service and dozens of people watched the funeral service live on their phones outside.

During the service, there were several references to the special meaning behind the name Grace. The songs Amazing Grace and Grace were performed live in the church.

Grace Lynch.

“This young lassie full of care and kindness who took her time in life,” said Fr Seamus. “She was a gift,” he said, adding that she inspired her family and friends.

Photographs of Grace at different stages of her life were projected onto a screen in the church during the ceremony.

Offertory gifts included a St Michael’s jumper to represent her school, a self-portrait in a white frame, and a jewellery case by her boyfriend Harry.

Fr Aherne told mourners that Grace always had time for others and believed there was good in everyone. "She never asked for anything and was always relaxed and unfussy,” he said.

Fr Aherne said Grace’s parents, Siobhan and Martin, adored their daughter, and said she was a quiet baby who was so laid back that “she was almost horizontal”.