One of two young friends from Castlelyons in north Cork, killed in a car crash over the bank holiday weekend, was buried amid poignant scenes yesterday.
Castlelyons parish priest Fr Michael Madden told mourners at the funeral of Michael Murphy in St Nicholas Church that if any good was to be found in the tragic death of the popular 22-year-old, it was in the support given to his grieving family by friends and the community.
Mr Murphy was killed along with his good friend, James Sexton (19), when the car in which they were rear-seat passengers hit a wall at Strawhall near Fermoy at about 9.15pm on Sunday.
Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Two young women, including the driver of the Honda Civic and another young man injured in the crash, were taken to Cork University Hospital but later discharged.
Leading the mourners at yesterday's funeral mass in the 19th-century village church were Mr Murphy's distraught parents, Jerry and Mary, and his brothers, JJ, Chris and John Paul, his sisters Brid and Karen and his girlfriend Nicola McCormack.
A keen Liverpool supporter, Mr Murphy's loyalty to Liverpool was remembered when his coffin arrived at the country church draped with a picture of Anfield and many of his relatives and friends wore Liverpool jerseys as a mark of respect to the deceased.
Members of Castlebridge Celtic AFC formed a guard of honour as his remains were brought from the church, while members of the local community guided mourners to parking areas as more than 600 people gathered for the funeral.
Meanwhile, the funeral will take place today of the second victim. Mr Sexton will also be buried in the local cemetery following requiem Mass at 2.30pm.