By Dionne Meehan
THIRTEEN-year-old Enya Maria Celia McMurrough was remembered for being immensely loving, caring and gentle at her requiem Mass yeserday.
Miss McMurrough, of Ardsbeg, Gortahork passed away unexpectedly in Crumlin Children’s Hospital on Saturday, February 1.
As hundreds gathered in Teach Pobail Chríost Rí to say their final goodbyes, Fr Seán O’Gallchóir said the local community have been living a nightmare since the teenager’s sad passing.
“All of us are battling with a vast range of emotions,” he said.
“Shock, sorrow, anger, acceptance, disbelief, bewilderment, gratitude, grief, empathy, sympathy, faith and a failure to comprehend and understand, what has been happening.
“So many of you have asked why was this little girl, who was in full bloom, plucked from us?
“A little girl, who, this day week, headed off with the other scholars for the school bus, who attended the morning classes, who then went to the gym for her PE class, who felt unwell and who, two days later, died in Crumlin despite the best efforts of the best people.
“Why do bad things happen to good people?”
During the Mass, Fr O’Gallchóir recalled his many encounters with Miss McMurrough and her family.
“On this day, as she lays here before us, memories go flashing back,” he said.
“It was here Shaun and Fionnuala stood on September 3, 2010, as they committed themselves, one to another, the beginning of their married lives.
“It was here, in January 2012, that Enya took the front seat as she became a Christian, baptised into the Christian community.
“It was here, in August 2020, that she received the Lord in Holy Communion.
“It was here that she stood in May last year, 2024, and was anointed and received the fullness of God’s spirit in Confirmation.
“And so, she comes again today to the same spot, as her earthy journey ends, laying in this white coffin and mourned by hundreds, if not thousands from all over the West of this county.”
Addressing the congregation, Fr O’Gallchóir remebered Miss McMurrough as lively, pleasant, outgoing, extrovert, always bubbly, so loveable, so friendly, so feisty, caring, cheerful, chatty, so positive, so popular, always full of zest, full of enthusiasm, full of sparkle, with many gifts and many talents.
She was a first year student at Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola, who were left deeply saddened by her passing.
“She wanted to do well, she had a great memory and she worked hard,” Fr O’Gallchóir said.
“Extracurricular activities were a big part of her life.
“She was a very talented musician.
“She learned piano, piano accordion, button accordion, tin whistle and whatever instrument you gave her.”
Miss Mc Murrough was also a dedicated member of Banna Ceoil Cloich Cheann Fhaola.
“She was a very important member of the band as they have shown spectacularly in the last couple of days,” Fr O’Gallchóir said.
“She loved the band.”
At home, Fr O’Gallchóir said Miss McMurrough was showered with love day after day.
“She was very happy and caring, carefree,” he said.
“She had her own beloved room in the house where she played her song ‘Beeswing’ and others.
“Where she learned her guitar, danced her dance steps, did her homework, Tik Toked and WhatsApped away.
“She was immensely loving, immensely caring and very gentle.
“She will be a great loss to her friends.
“It is heart-breaking on so many people because in so many ways, she is irreplaceable.”
Following Mass burial took place in the adjoining cemetery.
Miss Mc Murrough is deeply regretted and sadly missed by her heartbroken parents; Fionnuala and Shaun, her younger brother Séan, her grandparents; Hughie and Kathleen, aunties, uncles, cousins and extended family and many friends.
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