Large crowds attend service for grandparents and boy killed in Cashel crash
People arrive at St John the Baptist Church in Cashel for a vigil for Thomas O’Reilly, 45, Bridget O’Reilly, 46, and their three-year-old grandson Tom O’Reilly (PA)
Large crowds have attended a service held in memory of the three-year-old boy and his grandparents killed in a car crash in Co Tipperary.
Thomas O’Reilly, 45, his wife Bridget O’Reilly, 46, and Tom O’Reilly died in the collision in Cashel on Tuesday evening.
The boy’s parents, both aged 22, were seriously injured in the crash and are receiving treatment in hospital.
The service, which was held in St John the Baptist Church in Cashel, featured music from the Cashel Community School Choir.
Father Enda Brady said the family are very well known in the area, and are almost seen as “the elders in the community”, which made the community’s grief greater.
Speaking after the service, Fr Brady said it was “amazing” to see the large crowds fill the church to pay their respects and support the family.
“We have to remember that Tom and Bridget were the parents of 10 children and some of them are still school-going children,” he said.
“They need our support, our prayers at this time.”
A joint funeral mass will be held for Thomas, Bridget and Tom O’Reilly at St John the Baptist Church at 2pm on Sunday.
Thomas O’Reilly’s brother Michael lit three candles placed in front of the altar in memory of his three family members.
A student of Cashel Community School lit a candle for those who are receiving treatment in hospital.
Will Ryan, principal of St John the Baptist boys school, said that the community was “united in grief” after the deaths of “young Tom” and his two grandparents.
Mr Ryan also asked for a speedy recovery for Tom’s parents.
Mary Andrews, principal of St John the Baptist Girls School, shared her sympathies with the O’Reilly family, and hoped that “the support of so many (would) bring them through these difficult days, weeks and months ahead”.
People were also asked to say a prayer for the four young people who died in the Clonmel crash at a vigil held for the family affected by the crash in Cashel on Tuesday night.
The funeral of Nicole Murphy was held earlier on Thursday, while a funeral service for siblings Grace and Luke McSweeney are to be held on Friday, and a funeral will be held for Zoey Coffey on Saturday.
“We pray too for Nicole Murphy, Zoey Coffey, Grace McSweeney and Luke McSweeney, all who died so tragically in Clonmel on Friday. May they rest in peace,” Ms Andrews said.
Gratitude was also expressed for the emergency service members who attended the scene of the Cashel crash on Tuesday.
Councillor Declan Burgess and Tipperary TD Martin Browne were also among those who spoke at the service.
At its conclusion, members of the community queued up to shake hands with the family and express their condolences.
