- The funeral mass for Zoey Coffey took place at church in Clonmel, Co Tipperary
- She, along with three other people, died in a car crash on Friday, August 25
The family of an Irish teenager who died in a car crash that also killed three other people have laid her to rest.
The funeral of 18-year-old Zoey Coffey took place today in the town of Clonmel, in County Tipperary, eight days after she was involved in the crash that claimed four lives.
Zoey, her two 18-year-old friends Nicole Murphy and Grace McSweeney, along with 24-year-old Luke McSweeney, died when the car he was driving crashed as they headed to meet friends to celebrate their exam results.
Students from Presentation Secondary School, where the three girls had been pupils, formed a guard of honour as Zoey's pink and white coffin was carried into Saint Peter and Paul's Church in Clonmel this morning.
In a eulogy Clara Coffey revealed that only yesterday the family had been informed Zoey had been accepted onto a teacher training course and paid tribute to her 'intelligent, witty, kind' sister.
She said: 'Friday, August 25, a day I will never forget. A day that started with such excitement ended in the tragic loss of my beautiful little sister, her friends Grace and Nicole, and Grace's brother Luke.
'Zoey had us up bright and early, eagerly awaiting her Leaving Certificate results which she worked so hard for.
READ MORE HERE: Parent carries a coffin as siblings killed in Irish car crash tragedy are laid to rest
'Yesterday, we found out that she received her offer to be a teacher, a dream she had since she was a child.
'Zoey was a gentle, patient, enthusiastic, selfless girl and I have no doubt she would have made the best teacher.'
She added: 'We were and always will be so proud of what Zoey has achieved. For the little size of her she was larger than life, her presence was felt in every room because of her big personality.'
'She put everyone's needs before her own and would help anyone. Zoey was my best friend, we have always been so close growing up and I never did anything without her.
'We could not have asked for a better mam. She did – and still does – everything for us and we're so lucky to have so many memories to look back on; holidays, days out, karaoke sessions in the car, love and laughter.'
Father Michael Toomey told those present that this had been Tipperary's darkest week.
He said: 'Today we come, for many of us for the third day in a row, to a funeral of a fun, bubbly and central person in our lives.
'Zoey went to school in Saint Oliver's and then to the Presentation Secondary School.
'Zoey loved dancing. At the age of three she was a member of On Your Toes but very much kept her mam on her toes, and anybody else who upset her.
'It was at majorettes that she became best friends with Grace McSweeney and the two of them were inseparable ever since.'
He added: 'Zoey loved playing with her dolls and, since a young girl, always wanted to be a schoolteacher because of the inspiration that her teachers had on her.
'In receiving her Leaving Certificate results last week, she had hoped to go to Mary Immaculate College and fulfil her dream of being a teacher.'
Fr Toomey also remembered Tom and Bridget O'Reilly and their grandson Tom O'Reilly - who died in another crash in Cashel on Tuesday.
He said: "May our prayers here give them, their families and the people of Cashel love and support in Tipperary's darkest week."
Bishop Cullinan led the final prayers of commendation.
He said: "The whole country has been affected by the tragedy that occurred in Clonmel last Friday night, and by the loss of such wonderful young people whose lives have been cut all too short."
The funeral for the three members of the O'Reilly family will take place in Cashel on Sunday.
The funeral of Luke and Grace McSweeney took place at the same church on Friday as the town of 17,000 people came to a halt to mourn those killed in the crash.
Solemn crowds lined the streets yesterday as two hearses carrying the coffins of the siblings drove side-by-side through the town, while Irish President Michael D Higgins, Commandant Claire Mortimer, aide de camp representing the Taoiseach, and Education Minister Norma Foley joined the mourners at the church.
The siblings' parents described Grace as a 'princess who was born to shine' and her brother as 'a warrior'.
Their mother Brigid McSweeney said: 'Grace was gentle and very shy and always had to have a friend by her side. Luke was strong, not only in body but also in mind.'
Grace's deputy principal said she had 'a warmth and kindness that was exemplary' and added that her friend Zoey Coffey was her 'partner in crime and her best friend' who will 'remain together forever now in heaven and in our hearts.
'Grace was a credit to a wonderful close knit family who have always been quite rightly proud of their beautiful kind daughter and sister.'
Luke's girlfriend Kelly, who he met in 2021, described him as her 'best friend and biggest supporter'. His friends said he 'would have done anything' for his sister and he loved his family more than anything in the world'.
His mother said he 'always wanted to make the world a better place'.
The service also heard a message from MMA fighter Conor McGregor, who was a 'hero' of Luke's.
He said: 'I just want to send out my condolences to Luke and his family. I just want to say rest in peace Luke.
'I hear many, many things about you. You're a good man. I'm very sad hearing this news and I want to send my well wishes and my condolences.'
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