A SMALL wooden angel was among the gifts presented at the altar at Kilgobnet Church, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, yesterday at the funeral Mass of an eight-year-old girl who died after falling from a bouncy castle.
Amy Byrne (8), from Coolnasmear, west Waterford, died hours after making her First Holy Communion on Saturday. Mourners packed the tiny country church and occupied the churchyard, where Amy was laid to rest in her Communion dress.
Chief celebrant and parish priest Fr Michael F Kennedy, flanked by 14 clergy, introduced a moment of silent reflection in place of a homily.
“These few quiet moments will be more meaningful than anything I can say,” he said.
Amy’s father, Paul Byrne, told mourners of a conversation he’d had with his only daughter the night before her Communion. As the family talked about the significance of the day, it was said in jest Paul’s next speech would be after he gave Amy away at her wedding.
“I turned to her and said, I’ll never give you away Amy. Now I’ll never get the chance,” he said.
The child had brought the gifts to the altar on the day of her Communion, just hours before her death. She had looked forward to her Communion, her father said, and had confided in her grandmother about her First Confession. He thanked the local community for their support and sympathy. The choir sang Nearer My God to Thee as the small white coffin was brought from the altar, passing a guard of honour formed by Amy’s classmates at Scoil Gobnait, for burial in a plot outside in the churchyard.