A bleak day for Donegal as beloved Donna is laid to rest in Ardara

Despite the cold and stormy weather conditions, mourners flocked to Ardara on Friday morning to bid a sad farewell to Donna Boyle (née Dunnion).

A number of guards of honour from fellow county players and members of Four Masters and Ardara GAA clubs lined the route to the Church of the Holy Family, reflecting the high esteem in which she was held as a player and teammate.

See also: "Mum, you will always be our guardian angel" - Donna’s family pay beautiful tributes

Her Mass was concelebrated by seven members of the clergy, a mark of how important Ms Boyle’s faith was to her. 

Symbols of her life were brought to the altar at the start of the Mass.

A family photo represented her love for her entire family.

A book was brought forward to symbolise her love of teaching.

Jerseys from Four Masters and Donegal represented her love for the GAA, and a football in acknowledgement of the many friendships she made during her sporting career.

Fr Adrian Gavigan placed Christian symbols on her coffin in recognition of her faith. He then presented a white cloth to Ms Boyle’s brothers Barry and Donal to lay on her coffin, symbolising her Baptism and the beginning of her journey of faith.

Celebrant Fr Johnny Moore expressed sympathy to Ms Boyle’s husband Brendan, her children Eoghan and Aoibhinn, her parents Danny and Marion, brothers Donal and Barry, sister-in-law Nicola, and the immediate and extended Dunnion and Boyle families.

He said: “I know that you have experienced the great love and outpouring of affection for you at this most difficult of times. 

“We are very blessed and privileged to have on the sanctuary Fr Cathal O’Fearraí, Fr Pearse Mullen, Fr Willie Peoples, Fr Eddie Gallagher, Fr Rory Brady and Fr Adrian Gavigan who come here in their own behalf this morning and on behalf of their communities to offer you their prayers and support at this time.

“I think the weather today reflects what is in all of our hearts, very heavy hearts indeed.

“Each and every one of you who have taken the trouble to be here this morning and to pray for Donna. You bring your own distinctive memories of her as wife, as daughter, as sister, as colleague, teacher, somebody who you played with on the football field and for all those as well whom she interacted with in the communities here and in Barnesmore. 

“Donna fought a long and a brave fight and I have to say it was a great privilege to be able to journey with her on that difficult road.

“But - and this is is a big but - we must never just remember her or define her by her illness. She was so much more than that. So please, please hold that to the forefront of your thoughts.”

Fr Moore spoke of Ms Boyle’s devout Catholic faith, and he said that it was in that faith that she could be reached in the difficult times ahead for her family.

He recalled that only last Friday, she requested that he visit her in the hospital.

“I made my way to Letterkenny and I knew she was on the Medical ward but I had a heavy heart,” said Fr Moore.

“I had very lead feet. And I went to the furthest away car park to park so I could just get my act together, so that the longer the walk I would have, the more I’d be ‘with it’ as I would go and visit her in that hospital. 

“I think I went on three occasions back to the car to find something because I just didn’t want to go. My heart wasn’t in it.

“I was just very sad and very, very heavy-hearted indeed.”

The priest told how he prayed, and dug deep, and continued to the ward where a number of people were gathered.

“I went in and Donna  saw me and her face lit up seeing me and it was just beautiful to just have that reaction from her,” he said.

“The room cleared and it was just myself and Brendan left in the room with her so I sat down and I held her hand and I assured her that Fr Shane who was the hospital chaplain would be along shortly to do all the important anointing and all those other prayers. 

“I was there as a priest but I was there as her friend as well.”

He told how he asked Ms Boyle if she had any questions.  

She replied: “I’m spiritually here now at the gates of Heaven, and the question is, I don’t know where I am to go.”

Fr Moore said: “The answer came into my head, ‘follow the light.’

“She was quiet for a few seconds and then she said it's ok, I know now where I am going.”

He told mourners that the conversation then took on a more normal tone and he stayed chatting with the couple. When he left, the feeling of heaviness had left him.

The priest said that those who had walked with her in life had been in the company of a very holy woman, a saint in the making.

“And weren’t we the privileged ones,” he added.

He said there would be difficult times ahead for the family, but urged them to seek her through their faith.

“Never feel like she has left us, never feel that she abandoned us,” said Fr Moore.

“She is closer to us now than ever and if you want to talk to her, by all means pray to her. She is always truly present.

“That won’t take away your sadness today. That won’t take away the pain and the grief and the horrible feeling of separation that will take you by surprise over the weeks and months ahead. But we have a hope. We are the people of hope. She had that hope.”

On behalf of the family, Fr Moore thanked the medical staff who had cared for Ms Boyle throughout her illness, and everyone who offered condolences since her untimely passing, and those who had taken part in the Funeral.

Ms Boyle was then laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.