RIP: Large crowds attend funeral of young mother killed in hit-and-run just before Christmas

The chief celebrant of the funeral Mass in Rathkeale, County Limerick for Marguerita O’Rourke (née Sheridan), said she and her husband Denis were like Romeo and Juliet.

Marguerita died in University Hospital Limerick following a fatal collision in the town on Saturday, December 21. She had given birth to a baby boy, Edward, just three weeks earlier. A man has been charged and is before the courts in connection with her death.

Marguerita's coffin was wheeled into St Mary's Church in Rathkeale shortly after the regular Sunday morning service had ended.

Flower arrangements featuring lilac roses were placed at the edge of the pews. Giant heart-shaped floral arrangements featuring roses surrounded photos of Marguerita and Denis decorated the church and altar.

Outside the church, at the top of the 28 steps was a white carpet with garlands leading to the front door. Beside it was an eight-foot oval-shaped photo of Marguerita and Denis on their wedding day surrounded by gold embellishments.

The mist dispersed on a wet and windy afternoon in Rathkeale as the funeral Mass was due to start at 12.30pm.

Fr Liam Enright, who was accompanied by Fr Derek Leonard, Fr Wille Russell and Fr Maurice Costelloe, said the funeral Mass in the Catholic church, where there was no standing room. Up to 1,000 men, women and children paid their respects.

Fr Enright said he knew Marguerita since she was a young child.

“She was the heart and soul of her family, full of divilment, full of wonder, and loved - as all the girls here love -  to get the hair done and the make-up done.

“She fell in love when she met Denis and they were like Romeo and Juliet. They just loved each other - she saw no one else except him,” said Fr Enright.

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The priest said the couple were married in Rathkeale last year.

“A month ago yesterday they welcomed baby Edward into their lives and so a month after he was born she was brought to this church… 

“Everyone loved her. She was so well-liked. Her family are well-liked and well-got. She had an amazing smile and personality,” said Fr Enright, who prays that her son will know about his mum from the love that he receives from all those around him and who nurture him.

Fr Enright said many people from all over Ireland, America and England have sent messages of support. 

“Those messages are to watch over baby Edward and Denis and her parents and siblings but also that each one of us would know that this Christmas time, the peace of Christ is in our hearts and in our homes,” said Fr Enright.

The bell tolled at 1.44pm to herald the end of the funeral Mass. Marguerita’s coffin was shouldered to an awaiting horse-drawn white manduka hearse.

The funeral cortege was made up of 10 horses - led by two black Friesian horses followed by eight white shire horses. Raindrops dripped down the side of the glass-panelled carriage.

The horses and carriage were jointly provided by Thomas Clarke of T Clarke Carriages in Dublin and John O’Grady Carriages in Sixmilebridge, County Clare.

Taylor Swift’s Love Story was played as mourners wept. The song includes the lyrics, “Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone, I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run, You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess, It's a love story, baby, just say, Yes".

R Kelly’s The World's Greatest was also played before the funeral cortege began to wind its way through the town which was Marguerita's world and to her final resting place in St Joseph’s Cemetery.

Marguerita is sadly missed by her husband Denis, baby son Edward, parents John and Doite, sister Eileen, brothers Paddy and Freddy, uncle James, Patrick, Michael, and Danny (Sheridan) aunts Eileen and Brigid, Edward and Mary Teresa O'Rourke (family-in-law) Danny and Edward O'Rourke, extended family and friends.

May she rest in peace.