HUNDREDS OF mourners converged on a Co Limerick village yesterday for the removal of Elizabeth Gubbins who was killed on St Patrick's weekend in Rome.
The 27-year-old's college friend Mary Collins (28) from Athy, Co Kildare, was also killed in the collision, which occurred as they were returning to their hotel after celebrating the national holiday in the Italian capital.
The driver of the car which hit them at a pedestrian crossing, Italian national Friedrich Vernarelli (32), has been charged with manslaughter, drink-driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
The second youngest of six children, Ms Gubbins had recently started a new job in Tullamore where she was working as a bio-chemist in a pharmaceutical company called GeneMedix.
She is survived by her father Tom, brother David, and sisters Lucy, Marie, Helen and Ita. Canon Willie Fitzmaurice, a brother of Ms Gubbins's late mother will say the funeral mass today at Castleconnell church.
Ms Gubbins's remains were flown home last Friday and remained at the family home in Lisnagry all weekend.
An air of sadness hung over Castleconnell throughout yesterday afternoon as hundreds attended the removal home to pay their respects to the Gubbins family who are well known locally, particularly in GAA circles.