THE funeral is due to take place tomorrow of "beautiful, bright and bubbly" Ella Trainor, who died in a road crash in Co Down.
Family and friends of the six-year-old will gather in her home village of Hilltown to pay their last respects to the schoolgirl.
Ella was a primary two pupil at St Patrick's Primary School and principal Una Lawless last night said the little girl "loved everything about school life".
She was a back seat passenger in a Volkswagen car that was in collision with a Seat car and a tractor pulling a trailer loaded with hay bales on the Hilltown Road on Saturday.
She was taken by ambulance to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry but died a short time later.
Her mother Susan who was in the car with her sustained non life-threatening injuries in the crash.
Ms Lawless last night said the entire school community had been left shocked by Ella's tragic death.
"She was a beautiful, bright and bubbly little girl, all of these words could be used to describe her," she said.
"Throughout her time here, Ella was interested in learning, she was keen, inquistive and loved everything about school life, she wanted to learn.
"Ella was loved by all her classmates and we were all very shocked and very saddened to hear of her death.
"Our teachers have dealt with each class and child individually today and we have had counsellors into the school to help also.
"The entire school community is deeply saddened at this tragic loss."
Requiem Mass is due to be celebrated tomorrow at The Church of St John The Evangelist, Ballymaghery, Hilltown at noon followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Ella is survived by her parents Marty and Susan and elder sister Aoife.
