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3rd April 2024
04:18pm BST
The funerals of Una Carlin Bowden, Ciara, and Saoirse took place today just over a week after they were killed in Mayo.
The mother and her two daughters were killed on Tuesday, March 26, when their vehicle struck a lorry on a section of the N17 between Knock and Claremorris.
The family had lived in Gortachalla, Moycullen, Co Galway, for several years and the girls attended school locally.
Speaking on behalf of the girls' father and Una's husband David, his brother Andrew told the mourners that the couple had moved to Zambia after getting married where Una worked at an American school and the couple built their first house.
He continued: "In the years between Ciara and Saoirse being born, we started a safari company and set up a camp in a very remote part of Zambia. Una managed the camp — again, she was tough, resilient and game for any adventure.
"In August 2018, Una was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to leave Zambia overnight with the girls. She chose Galway, rented a house in Moycullen, and worked on fighting off the cancer with chemo and radiotherapy. She did this all on her own with the close support of her dad, family, cousins, while I closed down my work in Zambia. She was one tough cookie.
"Our two gorgeous girls were her world. Una was my soulmate, my confidant, and my world is so empty without her."
He had been booked to fly home the day that he was told about their tragic deaths.
Speaking about his girls, he told the funeral of how Ciara was a wonderful girl turning into the most beautiful while Saoirse 'was the quirkiest kindest little girl'.
Ciara's schoolfriend Amelie said that they would remain best friends for the rest of her life.
She said: "Ciara had this incredible joy and excitement for life. She had an impact on absolutely everybody she ever met. Just seeing her smile could make your day ten times better.
"Ciara's youngest sister Saoirse looked up to Ciara. They loved each other so much."
He spoke of how Ciara was the "ever-watchful big sister and team player.
"Ciara was quite brilliant at art and excelled at sport, including gaelic, handball, rugby and was recently selected on the Galway under-14 basketball team", he said.
While "wee Saoirse was the biggest Harry Potter fan in the whole wide world. She was not as outgoing as her big sister, but, when you got to know her, you found the funniest smart comments and a very quirky sense of humour.
"She loved animals, especially cats, and was most definitely the cat person of the family. She was a very good, solid wee thinker and loved creating and making with Lego."
Fr Kelly asked the children at the funeral to "remember the funny moments, the silly moments, the 'we-nearly-got-caught' moments. Laugh and cry with your firends about these things.
"Talk to your teachers and ask them how they're doing. Chatting, remembering, sometimes crying, sometimes hugging, all of us will get the courage to face the future."
The family have asked for any donations to be made to Madra, a cat and dog rescue centre in Galway which was a charity supported by both Ciara and Saoirse.
Featured image: Sasko Lazarov Rolling News
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