Three wicker basket coffins containing the remains of tragic mother Una Carlin-Bowden and her two daughters Ciara and Saoirse were brought home to Co Donegal for burial last night.
The tragic 47 year old mother and her two daughters aged 14 and 10, died following a horrific road crash on the N17 in Co Mayo last Tuesday.
It was the family’s wish that all three be laid to rest in Una’s native Donegal.
Yesterday all three were taken from Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, yesterday at 2pm.
People bowed their heads along the route as the tragic family were brought on the three hour journey in three separate hearses.
A Garda escort of four Garda motorcycles and two Garda cars made sure there were no delays for the funeral cortege.
The cortege arrived at the home of Una’s dad John in Miltown, Raphoe.
After 7pm last night mourners began to arrive at the home of Mr Carlin, a well-known and much-respected member of the local community.
Una, Ciara and Saoirse will be waked at the home on the family farm where Una grew up and where Ciara and Saoirse loved visiting as often as they could.
Among the mourners will be Una’s husband and the girls’ dad David Bowden who was working overseas with the United Nations when tragedy struck his beautiful family.
The young family had been living in Moycullen, County Galway for a number of years.
They had recently renovated an old cottage and had just finished the renovations in recent weeks.
They were a huge part of the local community in Moycullen where they were members of a number of groups including the local basketball and rugby club.
The funeral procession will leave the Carlin house at 11am on Wednesday morning and travel to St Eunan’s Church, Raphoe for their funeral mass at 12 noon.
The burial will take place afterwards at the old graveyard, Convoy.
The family have asked for any donations in lieu of flowers to be made to Madra, a cat and dog rescue centre in Galway which was very close to the hearts of Ciara and Soairse.
May they rest in peace.
