A funeral mass in Donegal for a mother and her two daughters has heard how life changed 'in a split-second' last week.
Una Carlin-Bowden (47) was killed along with her daughters Ciara and Saoirse, aged 14 and 10, in a road crash on the N17 in Mayo last Tuesday.
Basketball jerseys were among the gifts brought to the altar in St Eunan's Church in Raphoe.
The funeral procession earlier travelled from Una's father's house to the church for mass at midday.
Hearses arrive at St Eunan's Church in Raphoe, Co Donegal for the funeral of Una, Ciara and Saoirse Bowden, 3-4-24. Image: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ieFr Eamonn Kelly spoke of the huge loss for their father and husband, David, who has travelled home from work with the United Nations in Africa.
"What a terrible tragedy to happen to a family as a Dad looked forward to coming home to a holiday with his girls," he said.
"His girls looking forward to spending time with their Dad in their just-finished new house.
"But in a split-second life was changed forever".
David Bowden arrives at St Eunan's Church in Raphoe, Co Donegal for the funeral of Una, Ciara and Saoirse, 3-4-24. Image: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ieFr Kelly also thanked those who have supported the family.
"Each one of us gather to be with David, husband and father, painfully robbed of wife and daughters," he said.
"We try and be of some support to him... and all the family.
"Our support team is weak but we do try and thank you for your support, for it is deeply appreciated by all who are in the pines of sorrow.
"Yesterday week will be forever etched in our minds; an ordinary uneventful morning hid the devastation that lay ahead".
Una, Ciara and Saoirse Bowden. Image: rip.ieFr Kelly said everyone in the church and listening to the funeral "was shook with the hardest of sorrows" when the news filtered in.
"With her no nonsense directness one did not come away from a meeting with Una wondering what she was thinking - you knew it," Fr Kelly recalled.
"Her first words spoken to David were far from flattering, but she was to fall head over heels with the man from Zambia with the funny twang of an accent - at least compared to a girl from Raphoe," he added.
Mourners arrive at St Eunan's Church in Raphoe, Co Donegal for the funeral of Una, Ciara and Saoirse Bowden, 3-4-24. Image: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ieThe service heard Ciara, who had just turned 14, was "crazy about all dogs" - especially her two Scottish Terriers, Daisy and Boo.
She had also recently been selected for the Galway under-14 basketball team.
Saoirse was described as "the biggest Harry Potter fan in the whole wide world".
The funeral also heard Una had 'won a fight' with breast cancer.
Incoming Taoiseach Simon Harris has also offered his sympathies to those mourning the loss of the Bowdens.
