True ‘Cavan girl’ laid to rest

A young woman in the “springtime” of her life, who brought “joy, fun, colour and hope” to the lives of everyone she met, and represented the best that Cavan had to offer in terms of personality, is how the late Ciara Lynch Ellis was remembered at her funeral last weekend.

The “homebird” at heart died in the early hours of last Wednesday morning (March 2) following a multi-vehicle accident at Derrygarra Lower, Butlersbridge, minutes from her family home at 2 Pairc An Dúin, Cavan Town, to where she was travelling when the crash occurred.

“She was all that someone of 20 years had to offer to her family and friends. A laughter that was infectious. A wisdom and compassion that was beyond her age. In her Springtime she had dreams and ambitions, she had plans that people knew of, and some that she even kept to herself,” eulogised Fr Martin Gilchrist at Ms Ellis Lynch’s Funeral Mass last Saturday, March 5, at the Cathedral of Saints Patrick & Felim, Cavan Town.

But in “that moment” when that emergency services phoned her family to tell them of the terrible tragedy “all of that stopped”.

Before Mass began, symbols of Ms Ellis Lynch’s life were brought to the altar. A copy of Philly McMahon’s book ‘The Choice’, symbolic of her chosen career path as a trainee teacher.

Other items included a Cavan Autism Parents Support t-shirt, with whom she volunteered, a diary, a Cavan jersey to mirror her love of GAA and her county, as well as the keys to her car.

“When she was born she definitely looked like a ‘Ciara’,” mused Fr Gilchrist. “She had a love for reading and baking, and developed a fondness for giraffes but a dread of cows.”

She “overcame” that fear, the congregation of family and friends were told when, only a few weeks back, Ciara visited some new born calves.

Other loves included music, Christmas, family, and though “reared” in Ballyjamesduff, Ms Ellis Lynch was described as a “true” Cavan Gaels’ supporter.

To her friends struggling at this time, Fr Gilchrist urged them to “share” Ms Ellis Lynch’s loss with each other. “Speak of what you feel. Do so with people that you trust and know that you are held. Let your voice be heard in this darkness. Do not be alone. Find a friend.”

Representative of the love Ms Ellis Lynch had of colour and sport, many of those in attendance wore club jerseys.

Her younger sister Hannah spoke before the final prayers. She said that Ms Ellis Lynch “was all I ever wanted to be and more”, and a “one of a kind girl with a one of a kind personality”.

“Of all the things she was, she was a Cavan girl, that’s what she was proudest to be.”

Gardaí have continued their appeal for witnesses in relation to last week’s accident, which occurred at approximately 5:20am. Two other women, one aged in her 30s and the other in her 50s, each driving their own vehicles, were taken to Cavan General Hospital and treated for what have been described as “non-life threatening” injuries. “Gardaí are now appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.” Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cavan Garda Station on 049-4368800, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111, or any Garda Station.

Ms Lynch Ellis was laid to rest at St Brigid’s Cemetery, Killygarry. She is survived by her parents Sinead and Paddy, and siblings Patrick, Hannah and Jermaine, as well as “nanny” Kathleen Lynch, uncles, aunts, cousins, extended family and wide circle of friends.