The dream Zoey Coffey had of becoming a teacher was broken by Clonmel car crash tragedy

Reeling from the agony of witnessing a succession of funerals of young people, Clonmel stood in silence again today to part with the fourth victim of the horror road tragedy that plunged Tipperary and the nation into darkness.

The people of a town filled with unbearable  sorrow, were there to comfort the distraught family of 18-year-old Zoey Coffey as they dressed in pink at the request of the family to celebrate the life of a young woman who brought so much joy and fun to all who knew her.

The Leaving Certificate students  dream of becoming a primary school teacher was shattered by the worst tragedy to strike Clonmel in living memory.

Her funeral followed those of Nicole Murphy, Grace McSweeney and her brother Luke, who all perished in the horrific car crash that took place on the Mountain Road last Friday night as the three 18-year old girls were going out to celebrate their Leaving Certificate results.

The mourners in Ss Peter & Paul’s Church were told by her heartbroken sister Clara, that the family had found out on Friday that Zoey had achieved her ambition by receiving enough points to go to Mary Immaculate College in Limerick which had been her dream from a young age.

In a eulogy delivered at the start of the funeral mass Clara spoke about how proud the family were of Zoey and her achievements.

"Friday the 25th of August, the day I will never forget," she said, referring to the day of the crash that claimed four lives.

"A day that started with such excitement and ended with such tragedy and loss," said  Clara.

She described Zoey, whose remains were carried into the church in a pink coffin, as  “larger than life, a person who put the needs of everybody else before hers.”

Clara, who is a past pupil of the Presentation in Clonmel, said Zoey was the most wonderful gift in the lives of all her family.

“We will carry Zoey forever in our hearts,” she told the mourners in Ss Peter & Paul’s Church, which was packed to capacity with an overflow of mourners standing in the grounds of the church listening to the service.

Heartbroken parents Demelza and John,sisters Clara, Anna ,Olivia and Piper, Nanny Eileen, grandfather John Coffey senior, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends, heard  Fr Michael Toomey, in his homily, speak about the wonderful person that Zoey was.

Zoey was a born organiser and leader, traits she exhibited from a very early age in the home, said Fr Toomey. 

He spoke of her love for dolls,dancing and cooking and Fr Toomey said Zoey was known as the “Mammy of the group”, among her friends.

“She used to tell everyone she didn't believe in boyfriends, but she had in mind for her future to marry a big wealthy farmer, have six gorgeous children and to have a big white Range Rover car, “ said Fr Toomey. 

Fr Toomey, who said Tipperary had endured the darkest of days,  asked mourners to also remember in their prayers the O’ Reilly family who lost three family members in a car crash in Cashel last Tuesday.

He also welcomed the Murphy and McSweeney families and  told the congregation how Zoey and Grace became the best of friends.

“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 throughout all her life!  It was at majorettes that she became best friends with Grace McSweeney and the two of them were inseparable ever since, said Fr Toomey.

In a communion reflection Michael O’ Loughlin, Principal of Presentation Secondary School, told her heartbroken family that all in the Presentation community would always treasure Zoey.

“Zoey, we will treasure you always. We will remember all the words you ever said to us, Some funny, some kind, some wise. We will remember all the things you did for us, all the things we now recall through tear-filled eyes. We will remember your cheeky smiles, your vibrant ways, and how you got the job done in your unique and gentle determined ways. We will remember every moment we shared; our love for you will fall in tears. Your name forever etched on our heart, said the school principal.

The Presentation choir, who all wore pink ribbons in their hair, sang May The Road Rise To Meet You as Zoey’s remains left the church.

There were large crowds waiting outside, among them people in their work uniforms standing in solidarity with the bereaved family.All business premises were closed as a mark of respect as the funeral cortege made its way through a silent  town.

On the way the hearse paused in front of the Kickham Plaza which has become a shrine to the four victims of the tragedy over the last week, where young people gather at night to comfort one another and remember their friends now taken from them.

Students from the Presentation, who formed a guard of honour outside the church laid flowers at the Kickham Plaza, before the cortege moved on towards St Patrick’s Cemetery where burial took place.