New Ross, Co Wexford, came to a standstill today for the funerals of four victims of the weekend's fishing boat tragedy off Ireland's southern coast.
Up to 3,000 mourners were at the mass for three generations of one family who died in the accident near Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford.
At least another 1,000 people listened to the service through loudspeakers outside a packed St Marys and St Michael's parish church in New Ross. A number of shops and offices in the town closed as a mark of respect.
Mark Doyle, (14); his father, Seamus Doyle (33); and his grandfather Jim Cooney (60) were being buried at a graveyard outside New Ross.
The funeral of 44-year-old John Cullen was taking place afterwards, also near New Ross.
At the service for the Doyle and Cooney family, parish priest Fr Joe McGrath called the incident a heartbreak and a terrible loss. He said the only glimmer, if there was one, was that 11-year-old Patrick Doyle, Mark's brother, survived the tragedy and was at the ceremony.
All died when their 26-foot craft Piscesmysteriously sank on Sunday after their 10-strong party had put out from Fethard for a day's sea angling.
Though the cause of the sinking has still to be established, it was thought the boat could have got into trouble when its water pumps failed. No one on board was thought to have been wearing lifejackets.
Today it emerged one of those saved, teenager Derek O'Connor, survived because he was able to cling on to an air-tight lunchbox until he was picked up by other fishermen.
An investigation into the cause of the accident by officials from the Government's Marine Department is continuing.