A family's love for one another underpinned the tragedy which claimed the lives of a mother and her son and daughter in a drowning accident last weekend in north Cork, mourners at the funeral Mass for the three family members heard yesterday.
Fr Muiris O'Connor told mourners at the requiem Mass for Ita Noonan (49) and her children, David (24) and Emma (20), that no one could ever be sure of the exact circumstances of the tragedy which led to their drowning in the Awbeg river in Castletownroche last Sunday.
Recalling the lines by the poet William Blake, "And we are put on earth a little space/That we may learn to bear the beams of love', Fr O'Connor said that the love of Mrs Noonan for her children was evident to all.
"We may never know what really happened on that riverbank on that fateful afternoon on Sunday last but we can be fairly certain that Ita and David and Emma reached out to each other in an act of love.
"It was their love for one another, and their desire to save one another, that led to the tragedy of all their lives being lost."
Yesterday's concelebrated Mass was held at St Andrew's church in Kilfinane, Co Limerick, the home place of Mrs Noonan's husband David.
Fr O'Connor began by reading messages of sympathy from President Mary McAleese and the Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray.
Leading the mourners were Mrs Noonan's husband David, her brothers Eddie, Denis and James Rea, her sisters Margaret Howard and Una Dwane from Ballyhea in north Cork, and other relatives and friends.
Mrs Noonan had worked for the past eight years as a secretary with the Fermoy Garda Traffic Corps and among the mourners were Assistant Commissioner Ray McAndrew, Chief Supt Mick McGarry of Cork North, and Supt Flor Horan of Fermoy Garda station.
Addressing mourners after the Mass, Insp Pat McCarthy of Fermoy Garda station paid tribute to Mrs Noonan for her professionalism and dedication to her work.
He also recalled her generosity and kindness to both work colleagues and members of the public.
He echoed Fr O'Connor's comments about her great love for her children, recalling the great banter she enjoyed with them when they rang or texted her. It was something that was evident to everyone who worked with her, Insp McCarthy said.
"It seems she was more than a mother to David and Emma - she was their best pal.
"One could easily understand how Ita, David and Emma would risk life and limb for each other, which makes the events of the weekend on the banks of Awbeg river all the more poignant."
After the Mass mourners gathered at the Ballyhoura Hills graveyard as David and Emma were buried side by side.
Their mother's remains were brought to Dublin for cremation today at Newlands Cross crematorium.