Cashel community is in mourning as three members of the O’Reilly family are laid to rest

St. John the Baptist church in Cashel was packed with mourners this afternoon for the funeral mass of Tom and Bridgie Reilly as well as their three-year-old grandson Tom and those present heard that all three will be remembered as real people bringing joy and happiness to their loved ones.

Tom Reilly junior (22) and his wife Diane (22) were injured in the accident, and Diane was released from hospital in time to attend today's funeral. 

Cashel Parish Priest Fr Enda Brady pointed out during the funeral mass of Tom (3), Mr Reilly (45) and Ms Reilly (46) that their lives were more than statistics and that the single-vehicle crash last Tuesday in the Windmill area of the town would affect them all and would have far-reaching repercussions in the years ahead. 

The late Mr and Ms Reilly’s other surviving eight children - Shannon, Annemarie, Jimmy, Willie, Chloe, Britney, Kevin and Kelly - were all present for today's service. 

President Michael D Higgins also attended, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was represented by his aide-de-camp, Comdt Claire Mortimer and the Mayor of Cashel, Cllr Declan Burgess was there too. 

Local members of the Traveller community and the settled community in Cashel also turned out in large numbers as well as many who attended from across the country. 

Fr Brady during the mass emphasised that there is always real people behind statistics, and that every single person dying on Irish roads is a huge loss to their loved ones and their communities. 

“We have just heard about Joseph and Mary making their way to Bethlehem because the ruling authorities had called for a census. They wanted to count the people. Similarly, in our times we continue to have counts, statistics and numbers produced every so often”

Fr. Brady said before continuing: “And each year, among these figures, we are given the number of people who die on our roads. When we hear these, our reaction can be a moment where we say ‘God bless them’ and then move on with our lives.

“But when this awful situation lands on your doorstep, then you know these are not just numbers, there is a face, there is a heart, there is a personality, there is an individual. Unfortunately, Tom and Bridget Reilly, and their grandson Tom, have joined the number for this year but we don’t gather here today to remember them as a number.

“Tom and Bridget’s children remember the parents who loved and cared for them and their nephew, who, in three short years, endeared himself to the family.

“Their parents, brothers and sisters, cousins and extended family remember the people that were Tom and Bridget Reilly – they remember young Tom, the character that will be remembered throughout Ireland with his thumb raised in the air,” the Parish Priest said. 

“They remember the way they laughed and cried, the way they interacted, the way they were – these are the traits and qualities that we remember today as we celebrate the funeral Mass for a small boy and his grandparents.”

Outside in the sunshine, people lined up on the streets as three horse drawn hearses brought the remains to Cormac's Cemetery.