Limerick mum who died following a collision described as 'one of a kind' at funeral Mass

A LIMERICK mum of three who has been laid to rest following her sudden passing after a collision outside Pallasgreen has been described as "one of a kind" and a "proud mammy".

Shannen O'Halloran from Dooradoyle was travelling near Pallasgreen when she was involved in the single-vehicle collision with two of her children and her partner Paul Bennett, aged in his mid-30s. Paul was rushed to University Hospital Limerick where he was treated for “serious injuries”.

Her two children were also brought to hospital but did not sustain life-threatening injuries.

“It’s not goodbye, it’s see you when I get there,” Tara, Shannen’s sister said at the funeral Mass, fighting back tears.

The late 29-year-old was described as “loving”, “bubbly” and would “drive you mad” at her funeral Mass held in St Joseph’s Church on O’Connell Avenue.

Limerick mum who died in collision was 'a mother like no other'

The priest conducting the ceremony told mourners that “to lose a mum is heartbreaking” with Mother’s Day also being this Sunday.

Gift’s to symbolise Shannen’s life brought to the altar included a photo of Shannen with her three children, brought forward by her son Dion, a nail lamp and nail samples, a mobile phone, a can of Red Bull and a pot of shamrocks for the weekend “that’s in it”.

Tara, Shannen’s older sister and her younger brother Craig spoke lovingly of their sister who they described as “one of a kind”.

“When Shannen was born we didn’t really know where we got her from. She came out blonde, tanned, piercing blue eyes and a killer smile. She looked like she should be running around a beach in LA rather than Limerick city… She was beautiful inside and out,” Tara said.

Shannen was according to her sister always up to mischief: “She’d say she was popping to Centra on Friday and we wouldn’t see her again til Monday because she actually went to a three-day music festival.

“She was very fond of a Chinese. She was very well known in our local takeaway and if she wanted to order delivery and she didn’t have any credit in her phone she’d just send them a Call Me… They always rang her straight back,” Tara said as the mourners erupted in laughter.

Described as an incredible mother, Shannen’s children were her “whole world”.

“She idolised” her children, Dion, Jaxson and Lexie, and they “idolised her”.

“She should be so proud of the amazing people that she brought into the world because they will always be so so proud that she was their mammy,” Tara mentioned, fighting back tears.

Craig called his sister a “mini mother” to him. “She was always looking after me,” he said through tears.

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“She was my best friend. She was the closest person I had in my life.

“She was one of a kind and you’ll never meet anyone like her again,” an emotional Craig added as the crowd stood for a standing ovation.

Shannen was laid to rest in Castlemungret Cemetery, Mungret, following the funeral Mass.

She is very deeply missed by her heartbroken family, sons Dion and Jaxson, daughter Lexie, mother Elizabeth, brothers Stewart and Craig, sisters Tara and Emma, niece Brooke, nephew Bobby, grandmother Claire, godmother Ann, aunts Deborah and Trisha, uncle Kenny, cousins, her extended family, friends and in particular her best friend Katie.