Mourners at the funeral of Nicole Morey have heard that her family tree is "broken", as her father and sister paid emotional tributes to the 23-year-old who died after she was attacked by a dog last week.
Ms Morey died in the incident a house where she was living in Ballyneety last Tuesday night.
Ms Morey, who was originally from Bawnmore View in Crossagalla, had celebrated her birthday that day.
The cortège carrying her remains arrived at the Holy Family Church in Southill in Limerick city, shortly before 11am.
Ms Morey's mother Lisa, father Patrick and ten siblings were joined by hundreds of people at her funeral mass.
In an emotional eulogy, her father said she will be missed dearly and described his daughter as "a special girl".
"You were a girl who would do anything in your power to help anyone and do it with a smile on your face," he said.
"We will miss you dearly. You will be forever 23 and most of all, you'll be forever in our hearts."
Her sister Jolene said their "family tree is broken" and their "hearts are shattered" and said she is going to be "so lost" without her big sister.
"Our family tree is broken and I'm trying my best to stay so strong on the outside, but on the inside it's hurting so much."
She recalled an occasion "sitting at the kitchen table laughing and joking" this time last year.
"You'd never think a year later, our hearts are shattered for the rest of our lives. I love and miss you forever."
Chief celebrant Fr Pat Hogan described Ms Morey's death as "a horrendous tragedy" and said there has been "shock and horror at the great tragedy that took place" last week.
Fr Hogan said her life was "cut short in the most brutal fashion".
During the homily, he spoke of her "goodness and generosity" and he described the 23-year-old as "pure, beautiful and good".
The front of the altar in the Holy Family Church was adorned with floral tributes while some people who attended the funeral also wore t-shirts with her picture printed on them.
A number of gifts were brought to the altar as symbols of Ms Morey's life.
They included her laptop and her mobile phone as well as a Stitch teddy and family photographs, as mourners were told that "family was everything to Nicole".
Ms Morey was buried in the nearby Mount St Oliver cemetery.
