Hundreds attend funeral mass of Chermaine Carroll

Chermaine Carroll, a 20-year-old victim of the Athy car crash that claimed the lives of her and three of her friends, loved life, a priest told her funeral mass.

“She was a bright and bubbly person who loved being at work. She loved being Chermaine,” said Fr Tom Little.

The tiny Bennekerry, Co Carlow parish church of St Mary's was packed to over-flowing with 200 family and friends of the young woman.

Outside, hundreds more withstood a cold, biting breeze under a steely gray sky and occasional spits of rain to share a community’s loss – a darkness that had overwhelmed the parish, as Fr Little put it.

Chermaine died with friends Aisling Middleton (19), Niamh Doyle (19), and Gemma Nolan (19). Ms Nolan's funeral is to follow Charmaine's in nearby church of the Holy Family.

Chermaine is to be interred in the graveyard adjoining St Mary’s.