Jamey Carney remembered as 'a ray of sunshine' at funeral in Killarney

Hundreds gathered in Killarney to celebrate the life of the 43-year-old, with tributes focusing on her kindness and devotion to her daughter

Mourners carried bright sunflowers to the funeral of murdered mother-of-one Jamey Carney, who was remembered as "a ray of sunshine" — cheerful, kind, selfless and adventurous.

Some 200 people, including her mother, sister and closest friends, gathered at St Mary's Cathedral in Killarney on Wednesday to remember Ms Carney.

Ms Carney, 43, was found dead in her rented home off Muckross Road in Killarney on Tuesday, July 7.

She had been assaulted and died of asphyxiation.

Kathleen mother of Jamey and Devon, sister of the deceased Jamey Carney and mourners carry her coffin to the hearse after the requiem mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, Co Kerry. Picture: Larry Cummins

Fr Kieran O'Brien said homes should be places of safety, sanctuary and refuge.

However, he said the focus of the funeral would be on Ms Carney's life rather than her death.

“Jamey was your sunshine,” Fr O'Brien told mourners.

“Joy radiated from Jamey. She was bright, cheerful, full of life, described as such a kind person, selfless, small things were big things.” 

A heartbroken Devon, sister of the deceased Jamey Carney, wearing a Kerry football jersey and carrying a single sunflower at St Mary’s Cathedral, Co Kerry. Picture: Larry Cummins

The sunflower was her flower, Fr O'Brien said, symbolising how she grew "tall and bright and beautiful".

“She was happy in life,” Fr O’Brien said.

He said she had a wide circle of friends who were more like sisters, sharing a love of shopping, country music, travelling and seeing the world.

She was adventurous and determined, however, her greatest love was her daughter, Michaela, he said.

Members of Dr Crokes GAA club formed a Guard Of Honor as the cortège left the cathedral and made its way through the town. Picture: Larry Cummins

“Five years ago, a big decision to move from New York to Ireland was regarded as her best decision, she had heard so much of her Irish roots.

“As her family in New York, you were happy for her that she had found a place called home. [Her daughter] attending our local school and got involved in playing GAA, even the estate she lived in was called Homeland."

Fr O'Brien said people across the country shared the pain of Ms Carney's loss.

He said the community would rally around Ms Carney's 13-year-old daughter, Michaela, her mother Kathy and her sister Devon Bennett during their darkest hour.

Members of Dr Crokes GAA club formed a Guard Of Honor as the cortège left the cathedral and made its way through the town. Picture: Larry Cummins

White roses surrounded a photograph of a smiling Jamey Carney, while her coffin, draped in a white pall, rested at the front of St Mary's Cathedral.

Her friends, Lily and Liga, brought photographs of Michaela and the family's beloved dog, Penny, to the altar as symbols of the people and things she cherished most.

A passport, symbolising her love of travel, was also brought to the altar.

Her sister Devon brought a statue of an angel because Ms Carney had been "an angel" to her family and friends, Fr O'Brien said.

A cowboy hat, representing her love of music, was also placed at the altar.

Soft sobs could be heard throughout the Requiem Mass.

Members of Dr Crokes formed a Guard Of Honor as the cortège left the cathedral and made its way through the town. Picture: Larry Cummins

Her mother, sister, and friends Lily and Liga helped carry Ms Carney's coffin from the cathedral.

Mourners embraced them outside before they departed for a private cremation ceremony.

Ms Carney's daughter's teammates from Dr Crokes GAA formed a guard of honour outside the cathedral as her body left Killarney — the town she had come to call home — for the final time.