“Amazing, powerful and inspirational” Tanya (42) laid to rest on day that would have been her 5th wedding anniversary  

One of largest funerals witnessed in south Donegal in recent memory took place on Friday afternoon for the late Tanya Dunne (42), from Stracomer Drive at the Church of Lady, Star of the Sea, Bundoran - on what would have been her fifth wedding anniversary.

The cortege which had earlier made its way from the O’Shea family home in Belleek and through Ballyshannon, where she had been the manager of the Saimer Childcare Centre, was met enroute by a large congregation of sympathisers and local GAA guards of honour, who all maintained a dignified and respectful silence as the funeral cortege passed, before Tanya continued her last journey towards Bundoran.

As the hearse slowly made its way up Bundoran’s Church Road towards the chapel, the deceased was carried by close family and dear friends, with both sides of the street forming what appeared to be a seemingly endless guard of honour from both the Realt na Mara GAA Club and Bundoran LGFA. 

The late Tanya Dunne 

It included many families with younger children and teenage club members who had been associated with Tanya, through her many roles in the club over the years and before that, Aodh Ruadh and Erne Gaels.  

Chief celebrant at the Funeral Mass was Fr Anthony O’Shea P.P., a relative of the deceased who was assisted by local Magh Ene parish priest, Canon Ramon Munster P.P.

Fr O’Shea thanked those in attendance for bringing both comfort and hope to family and friends of Tanya.   

“We are here today to celebrate a life tragically cut short and to give thanks for Tanya, an inspiration.”

Referencing many of the social media comments that had followed in the days since her tragic death at just 42 years of age from cancer, Fr O’Shea said that one of her friends had described her, “as an amazing, powerful and inspirational lady”.

He, like many others, was thankful to God for having the privilege of knowing Tanya, remarking that the day of her funeral would have been her fifth wedding anniversary, which he had celebrated in Mulleek and which had made the day even more poignant and sad, particularly for her husband, Rory and over the recent years of her illness.

Mourners leave the church as Tanya makes her final journey to St Ninnidh's cemetery in Bundoran.

Photos: Michael McHugh 

Later in his homily, he referenced a song that contained what he described as a catching refrain: 

“‘In the time that you gave me, did I give all I could give, Did I love all I could love, did I live all I could live, Was my faith in your grace strong enough to save me, Did I do all I could do in the time that you gave me’”.

He said that Tanya was an “exceptional and inspirational woman, who in my opinion and the opinion of many, many people did all that she could do in this life. She fitted so much onto those years, which has now come to an end, sadly. And that she would have said, ‘I hope I did you proud in the time that you gave me’”.

He alluded to a number of people who had spoken of their heartbreak at their loss, most appearing on social media comments. 

One read: ‘Truly one of the most beautiful ladies ever to walk alongside us, her smile was infectious, she cared about everyone else, she was funny, she was intelligent and she’ll be missed every single day’”.

Another lady wrote: 

“Tanya was an incredible person.Too good for this world. Her fight in recent months, her courage, her unbreakable spirit, will live in all of us, who had the pleasure of knowing her’”.   

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Another came from a local journalist, who poignantly described her gentle nature off the GAA field but matched with a ferocity of spirit when playing for her clubs on the football fields of Donegal and Fermanagh.  

After the Funeral Mass, Tanya was buried at Bundoran’s St Ninnidh’s cemetery, Newtown.

Deceased was the much loved wife of Rory, adored daughter of Bernie and the late Martin, cherished sister of Barry (Tanya), Jacinta (Ronan), Mark (Julie), Martin (Tracey), loving auntie to Mya, Eva, Alex, Ben, Oscor, Ollie, Pippa, Ayda, Gia, Ruby, Riley, cousins, aunts, uncles, extended Dunne & O’Shea families and all her dear friends, to whom the deepest sympathy is extended.