To have lost a young mother was a great sadness, but to have lost a mother and her child together caused "immeasurable" grief, Father Richard O'Connor, parish priest of Lixnaw said yesterday at the funeral Mass of two of those who died in a house fire in north Kerry last weekend.
Ms Sheila Stack (27), and her five-year-old son Gavin both died in a house fire near Ardfert sometime between 4 a.m. on Saturday when they were last seen and 5 p.m. on Monday when their bodies were discovered.
The third victim, Ms Stack's friend, Mr James Harty, was buried on Thursday in nearby Ballyheigue.
"Our sorrow is great. It is immeasurable, but we are gathered because there is great consolation in the Mass," Father O'Connor told mourners at St Michael's Church Lixnaw.
The Lixnaw National School, adjoining the church was closed yesterday as a mark of respect to their pupil, Gavin who was only days short of his sixth birthday.
In the homily at the Mass concelebrated by four priests, Fr Pat Moore, curate at Lixnaw, said he had baptised Gavin in August of 1998. Looking at the coffins of mother and child "we are all struck dumb by this unspeakable grief that Sheila and Gavin's family and friends are experiencing," Father Moore said.
Ms Stack is survived by her parents Mr John and Mrs Angela Stack, as well as five sisters and two brothers.