TWO of the Irish victims of the Berkeley balcony collapse have been laid to rest in Dublin, following emotional services.
Eoghan Culligan and Eimear Walsh’s funerals took place in the capital this morning, with hundreds turning up to both churches.
Eimear’s got underway first, at the Our Lady of Perpetual Succour church in Foxrock, after which her parents Jim and Patricia and brother Robert laid her to rest in Shanganagh Cemetery.
The talented musician’s former parish music group sang as her coffin was brought from the church for her final journey.
Her father Jim Walsh put his own grief aside to ask mourners for his 21-year-old daughter to keep the other victims of the tragedy in their prayers.
“We ask you to pray for all the students and their families. Also please remember those who remain hospitalised in America, including Eimear’s close friend Aoife Beary,” he said.
Just across the city in Rathfarnham, Eoghan Culligan’s funeral was also taking place at the Church of the Annunciation.
The 21-year-old sports fanatic is survived by his parents Marie and Gerry, brothers Andrew and Stephen and girlfriend Sarah.
There was tears and laughter as Sarah paid tribute to Eoghan during the service with a specially written poem.
“I’ll miss watching you walk past every mirror in your house lifting up your t-shirt and saying ‘Sarah do I look fat today?’” she said.
“I’ll miss our walks in Dun Laoghaire to catch the sunset and I’ll miss our ritual of a cup of tea and a biscuit every night after dinner.
I’ll miss you waiting on me patiently without any fuss and how you always made sure I knew no-one else in the world mattered except us.
My soulmate was taken from me but I know you will live on in my heart every day and that you will guide me every step of the way.”
Eoghan's brother Andrew also paid a teary tribute to the popular Dublin Institute of Technology student.
"He was my little brother but also my big brother," he said. "I just want to say Eoghan , we love you, we'll never forget you and we miss you terribly. See you on the other side brother."
Irish-American 22-year-old Ashley Donohoe, who died in the tragedy, has already been laid to rest – while the remaining three victims’ funerals take place this week.
Niccolai Schuster will be interred in Mount Jerome Crematorium in Harold’s Cross, Dublin, tomorrow morning, while Olivia Burke will be laid to rest in Deansgrange Cemetery.
The final victim Lorcán Miller will be buried in a private ceremony on Thursday.
See More: Balcony Collapse, Berkeley, Featured
