Large crowds have attended the church in Liscannor in Co Clare for the funeral mass of 41-year-old Caitríona Lucas, a volunteer coast guard who died last Monday while conducting a sea search at Kilkee for a missing man.
Uniformed members of the Irish Coast Guard formed a guard of honour at the church as her coffin arrived.
Members then draped the coffin with the Irish Coast Guard flag.
Parish Priest Fr Denis Crosby described Ms Lucas as a gracious wonderful woman and saluted her great spirit of service and generosity.
He said he hoped the light and courage of her life would shine into the darkness of fear.
He said so many Coast Guard members had come to represent people from all over the country, and that flags at all official buildings were flying at half mast today to honour her.
Minister for Transport Shane Ross was present while Taoiseach Enda Kenny and President Michael D Higgins were represented by their aides-de-camp.
Ms Lucas is survived by her husband Bernard and her son Ben and daughter Emma.
In a short moving address to mourners, Ben described his mother as an exceptional person who loved life, loved the sea and loved the Coast Guard.
She was his hero and she will be missed by everyone, he said.
