'God bless my beautiful baby girl' - Nicole Murphy's mother speaks of family's heartbreak

Nicole Murphy's mother has spoken of the family's heartbreak at the funeral mass of her 18-year-old daughter. 

Serena Murphy addressed the packed congregation at St John the Baptist Church in Kilcash and described how Nicole "lit up a room whenever she walked in". 

She said, "I wish we could have had her for eternity, now she will live in our hearts forever." 

Mrs Murphy described how Nicole - who was going to study midwifery in Cork - had achieved an incredible 531 points in her Leaving Certificate and how she "never really believed in herself until then". 

She said, "Our family is now left with broken dreams and broken hearts. 

"God bless my beautiful baby girl and my best friend, I pray that she will follow her dreams somewhere even more beautiful now." 

She urged people to remember her daughter at Christmas time.

She said, "When you're putting the angel on top of the Christmas tree this year, think of Nikki and pray for her." 

A Christmas tree was offered as as symbol during the mass to represent Nicole's love of Christmas time with her family. 

Hundreds gathered outside the church to say goodbye to Nicole, with the grieving families of Zoey Coffey and Grace McSweeney and Luke McSweeney also in attendance.