A gifted GAA player who lost her life in a devastating road accident in Tipperary was remembered at her funeral as someone who adored music, travel, and Camogie. Laura Kennedy died following a two-vehicle collision on the R495 Nenagh to Dromineer Road last Tuesday evening.
The 20-year-old was tragically declared dead at the scene. Gardaí have appealed for witnesses, particularly motorists with dashcam footage, to come forward.
Mourners gathered for the young woman’s funeral service at Ballywilliam Church in Tipperary on Sunday. Her coffin was draped in the flag of Burgess-Duharra, the club she represented at every age grade, and fellow players formed a guard of honour. Emotional tributes were delivered by her father, John, and her twin sister, Ashling.
Twin Sister's Tribute
Ashling began by saying: “Anybody who knew Laura knew that she was kind, smart, funny, talented and amazing at everything she did. She was the most stylish person going, always buying more and more clothes on Vinted - the postman never got a break. She was also so smart and she knew it … I’d be stressing over an exam and she would try calm me down and just go ‘Ashling, it’s not worth it. It’s just some exam.’ And she would go back to her room and study for a day and come back with a better result than me.”
Ashling added: “Laura to me was not just my sister - she was my best friend. Anything one of us did - the other one did. We couldn’t get away from each other. Secretly, I loved it because I knew she was always with me and I was never lonely. There was no chance to be lonely.”
She continued: “If it was going to college, work, training, the cinema or going to town for our weekly trip to Tesco - I’d look at her and realise how lucky I was to have her. Her smile did something to me and I think it done something to all of us. You couldn’t help but smile back at her.”
Ashling concluded: “I’m so glad I have the most amazing family and friends to get through this because I don’t think I’d be able to without them. We will stay strong for Laura and get the strength from her because she was the strongest person I knew.”
Father's Heartfelt Words
Laura’s father, John, spoke about the impact his twin daughters had on his life. He said: “On the 10th of the 10th, 2005. Two angels appeared to myself and my good wife Annette and our life changed forever. You think you have a life up until that, and you’re happy, and you’ll get on with it, but all anybody wants is for somebody to turn a house into a home. We had a beautiful house of bricks and mortar, but two beautiful children came along and made that complete. They lit a fire in our hearts. Unfortunately, now one of them has been extinguished. But there’s so much power and light in the other one that it is more than double the flame. I know that you’ll keep lighting and Laura will shine her light through Ashling.”
John recalled Laura’s passions: “Laura had so many passions in her life. She loved her music as I said. She loved her Camogie. It’s fair to say that she loved to travel - she wouldn’t be home from one trip before she’d be on the internet planning something else. From short trips to long ones and I’m glad in her short 20 years that we fitted in so much.”
Breaking down, he said: “You were 20 years old, Laura and I would give anything for 20 more seconds just to hold you in my arms and tell you how much I love you. I told you every night going to bed that I loved you, and I only missed it when you were gone away. I’m so glad that I did that, but just in case you ever doubted that, from the bottom of my broken heart and from my wife and from your sister Ash … we love you so much and thank you for 20 beautiful, glorious years.”
Tokens representing Laura’s life included an accordion, her Burgess-Duharra jersey, her favourite coat, her hurl, a bag symbolising her love of travel, and a lab coat for her degree. She was later buried in Monsea Graveyard.
