A young County Donegal nurse killed in a freak accident in Australia lived a “beautiful life from her birth to her death”, mourners at her funeral have been told.
Mary Ellen Molloy (26) died when the branch of a tree fell onto a taxi in which she was a back-seat passenger in Melbourne on December 20. A keen GAA player, Ms Molloy was a niece of Donegal’s first ever All Ireland winning senior captain, Anthony Molloy who was also her godfather.
In hugely emotional scenes earlier this week, hundreds of people lined the streets of villages in County Donegal as Ms Molloy’s remains were returned to her home town of Ardara early on New Year’s morning. Mourners, many carrying candles, stood in silent tribute as the young Donegal nurse’s remains passed through the villages of Glenswilly and Glenties arriving in her native Ardara shortly before 2am on Wednesday morning.
At her Requiem Mass yesterday, Ms Molloy’s white coffin was led to the altar at the Church of the Holy Family, Ardara by her brothers, Karl Joseph and John Ross along with her parents, Terence and Angela. Her nurse’s uniform and a cross were brought to the altar as tokens of her career and devout faith.
As her coffin was carried from her family home yesterday morning, the local GAA club joined Glenties Comprehensive School students to form a guard of honour. Six friends later led the Prayers of the Faithful while another delivered a brief reflection on her life.
Chief celebrant, Johnny Moore told mourners the young Donegal woman was accompanied by Christ along every step of her “beautiful life” from birth to death. Fr Moore said Ms Molly gave of her self throughout her career.
Fr Moore said: “She was a daddy’s girl; devoted to her studies. “
Ms Molloy’s grand uncle, Fr Des Sweeney – who was joined by eight priests - told mourners his niece would always be in the hearts of everyone present.
Following Requiem Mass, Ms Molloy was laid to rest in the adjoining graveyard.
A Go Fund Me page established by St Kevin’s GAA club in Melbourne has so far raised €116,816 (£99,390) for Ms Molloy’s family as well as her friends, Sarah Fitzpatrick who was injured in the accident and Aoife Sheridan who was also in the taxi but was not injured.
