Single empty seat at Turkey bomb victim funeral
The only empty seat in the church at the funeral of teenager Tara Whelan, who was killed in a terrorist bomb in Turkey, was her place in the choir stall.
At St Nicholas Church, Ballyduff, Co Waterford, tributes were paid to the 17-year-old who was known for her generosity and open smile.
Mourners packed into the parish church for the funeral of the girl who had just completed her Leaving Certificate, and lived in the nearby village of Kilmeaden.
Hundreds more stood in the graveyard, the street and on the village green, where flags flew at half-mast, to listen to the Mass broadcast on loud speakers.
A lone piper played Amazing Grace as Tara’s coffin was carried around the corner to the church.
Two coaches had brought Tara’s schoolfriends from the Mercy Convent Secondary School to form a Guard of Honour in their school uniforms behind the coffin.
Members of staff from the Sweep Pub where Tara had worked lined up to wait for the coffin, each holding a single pink rose.
Tara had been an active member of the choir, which sang “Here I Am, Lord” as her coffin was carried into the church.
Father Michael O’Byrne told the congregation: “Our church is full today but there’s a vacant seat over there in the choir.
“Tara was a much-loved and much-appreciated member of the choir.”
Tara had been holidaying with two friends, twins Lyndsey and Tracey Galgey, in the holiday resort of Kusadasi when the bus she was travelling on exploded.
Today Lyndsey described being told the heartbreaking news of the death of her friend, who she said was like a mother and a sister to her.
“Tara was nobody’s enemy, just a friend to everyone.
“She was harmless and never stopped caring for others,” she said.
Lyndsey told the congregation that Tara had spent the holiday listening to her favourite band, The Killers, and eating pizza and Irish roast dinners and chips.
“I just want to let everyone know she had the holiday of a lifetime.
“Each night she said: ’This is great, I wish I didn’t have to go home,’ but she did wish her family and friends could be in Turkey with her,” she said.
“She would want us to be happy and smiling all the time, just like her.
“She was my best friend, my little star. She’s all our star now.”
Fr O’Byrne, who led the celebration of the Mass, said: “Tara well knew what it was to give. She gave freely her smile, her time, her patience, her musical talent.
“I can’t overemphasise that this girl’s open smile and friendly spirit was a joy to everyone who knew her.
“She was known and well-known for her compassion and generosity, two hallmarks of a good Christian.”
Symbols were brought up to the front of the church, where there was a photo of Tara, a school tie and a square yellow and pink floral arrangement in the shape of musical notes.
Among the gifts brought forward was a single red rose which Fr O’Byrne said: “Like Tara, it has a short and beautiful life and gives so much joy in a short time.”
Classmates also brought forward a school jumper, a tin whistle to signify her musical talent and a copy of the play The Shaughran, in which she had been involved.
“Everyone in the theatre knows when the lights in a play dim, it’s not the end of the play. The stage lights come up again onto the next scene.
“The next scene for Tara is heaven,” Fr O’Byrne said.
He asked the congregation to applaud Tara’s life and clapping rippled out of the church as the crowd listening outside joined in.
Prayers were said for Tara, her family and friends, for the victims of the recent bombing in London and also for the bombers in Turkey.
Fr O’Byrne said the family had expressed the wish that Tara’s death would be the turning point which would bring peace to that troubled area of the world.
President Mary McAleese was represented at the service by her aide de camp Colonel Ray King.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was represented by Commandant Michael Murphy, and Minister for Transport Martin Cullen represented the Government.
Korhan Kungeru was at the church on behalf of the Turkish Embassy and a number of local councillors and clergy also attended the service.
Following the funeral Mass, Tara was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.
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