Croke Park was silent yesterday following the postponement of the All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals as a mark of respect to James McGarry, the Kilkenny goalkeeper whose wife, Vanessa (31) who died in a multiple-vehicle crash last Thursday, was laid to rest.
Thousands of mourners, led by GAA president Nickey Brennan, attended her funeral in Co Kilkenny. Local Fianna Fáil TD Bobby Aylward said: "The GAA has gone up in a lot of people's estimation for this gesture which was much admired and welcomed."
The quarter-finals will be played next Saturday. At Thomastown's Church of the Assumption, on a hill overlooking the River Nore, crowds began assembling one hour before the funeral Mass. At the foot of Ms McGarry's coffin lay a white floral tribute spelling the word "MAM".
Her son Darragh (11), his head and right hand still bandaged from injuries in the crash, arrived holding the hand of her husband, James, shortly before 11am. In a homily, Fr Peter Muldowney said "all we can do is sit with you and help you to cry and to grieve".
He reminded mourners that the funeral of another mother killed in the crash, Mary Lonergan (49), was taking place at about the same time in the nearby village of Paulstown. He told the congregation that James and Vanessa, who had married only six months ago, had just laid the foundations for a new house on the outskirts of the town.
He described Vanessa, who worked in a local pharmacy, as "a very refined and dignified person". Vanessa's love of hurling was acknowledged as a Kilkenny county jersey and other mementoes of her life were brought to the altar. As Darragh followed his mother's coffin out of the church, schoolboys from his under-14 Thomastown team joined Kilkenny hurling stars of past and present and senior GAA officials from all over Ireland to form a guard of honour. The line-up included former players Eddie Keher and DJ Carey (a cousin of Mr McGarry), manager Brian Cody and team captain Henry Shefflin.
Gardaí are continuing their investigation into the crash. A Polish truck driver who was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and causing the death of one of the women has been released without charge.
