Tragic Amanda Kinsella "lit up everyone's lives" and will "live in her family's hearts everyday", her funeral mass has been told.
The young teacher died in a shocking accident when she fell from a bus at Ardnawark, Barnesmore Gap, outside Donegal Town at about 3.45pm last Friday afternoon.
The 27-year-old had been home from working in the Middle East and was attending the wedding of a friend when the heartbreaking accident occurred.
It is understood that the Amanda, a native of Bennekerry, Co Carlow, stood up to get something in a bus which was carrying wedding guests, when she fell against the door of the vehicle and was struck by a car.
She was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin but passed away on Friday evening despite valiant efforts to save her by medics.
Symbols which represented her life, the joy, the goodness of her generosity and her caring side were brought to the altar during her funeral mass on Thursday.
These included her local Bennekerry jersey which she wore with pride, as she played GAA football in so many different places across Oman and Ireland at school, county and club level.
Mourners at St Mary’s Church, Bennekerry, were told that: "The accident really shocked us (community) and (left us) bereft. Our prayer and love for you has grown for you in the last number of days. She was a girl of action and busyness."
Brendan, her boyfriend, brought forward a picture of the two of them. Attendees were told he was “the love of her life”.
A floral bouquet of red roses adorned her oak coffin, which was carried into the church by relatives and friends.
Her brother David told mourners: “Amanda lit up everyone’s lives and that of the community. I never thought I would be hear saying goodbye to her.
"She was a great bluffer when trying to get jobs, especially for summer jobs in the US. Nothing feared her as long as she was with family and friends.
“Saying goodbye to her at the airport never got easy when she was going back to Oman and Bahrain. She certainly was the cream of the crop.
"Last Friday was such a tragedy - it is hard to believe - but she was living life. You will live in our hearts everyday. We love you Amanda. Rest in Peace.”
The church was filled with sunflowers and yellow roses as almost 1,300 mourners from the Middle East, Donegal, Carlow and different parts of the country watched via live webcam due to Covid-19 restrictions - limiting those who could attend.
Those gathered were told: “God never wants us to die and he does not want death to be the end. Amanda believed the message of living life to the full. She loved here. She loved home, she loved David and Aisling maybe not all of the time - but 90% of the time. She loved school, planning and travel. She then met Brendan, she loved him and she was proud to call him her boyfriend.”
They heard that: “The accident has left a huge hole in our life. It would have been one of her great wishes in her life that the wedding she attended would not be ruined on what happened on the (couple’s) day. She never would want the man who was driving the bus nor the driver of the car to be hurt or (feel blame). She would want them to live life to the full.
“The accident was God’s way of bringing her home. The death was the gateway to see the Father, God himself. God gave her the gift of life and only he can take life. We must cherish life as Amanda did.”
Her family were told that during the dark days of life which may follow: “Never doubt she (Amanda) is fully alive and she will help you to know God’s love and the struggles will make her passing more understanding and tolerable.
“We thank you Amanda for the love and the joy you brought into the world, to the love and joy you brought to the community, to the Middle East, to inside and outside the church. You were different and special.”
Gardai have renewed their appeal for information about an incident in which Ms Kinsella died.
Officers can be contacted in Donegal town on (074) 9740190 or the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.
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