The mother of two children who died along with their father in a car crash in Co Donegal last week has told mourners at their funeral to "cherish each day as though it is your last".
The town of Moville came to a standstill this morning as hundreds of people came out to pay their respects to 49-year-old John Mullan, his son Tomás, and six-year-old daughter Amelia.
The children's mother and John's wife, Geraldine, survived the tragedy.
During the funeral, Geraldine spoke of the lovely day out they had together and the laughter and chat they had in the car on the way home before the tragedy, which took their lives.
She said everything went against them that night - the high tide, inclement weather, road works and slippery road surface - and said John was the safest driver you could meet.
When the car turned upside down in the water, she said she knew John tried everything to get out but his injuries had trapped him in the car.
She said she called out each of their names until she knew they were gone.
Mrs Mullan also said that her son and daughter were found clinging to each other when their bodies were pulled from the wreckage.
"Everybody knows my dear son Tomás was a good brother to his sister, he was the best big brother to the end because when they found them Ameila was in Tomas's arms," she said.
"On the dark days in the weeks and months ahead that I have to endure, I know that I will get a sign and all three of you will be looking after me."
Geraldine said John would have been 50 in two weeks and his lifelong dream was to go to Cape Canaveral in the United States, but because of the pandemic, they could not go.
She said instead the family decided to get 50 birthday presents for "the super bestest Daddy ever" and they are now hidden all over the house and she has no one to give them to.
Mrs Mullan described John as her rock, the love of her life, her soulmate and best friend.
She said she has lost the three most important people in her life, her heart is broken and is never going to heal.
To John, she said, "for now it's just goodbye, look after our two darlings, heaven has definitely gained three angels, and look after me down here."
To those listening, she said she had one last request, please go home and hug your kids and loved ones, tell them you love them.
Cherish each day as though it is your last, she said.
Her father, Martin Connaughton, thanked the emergency services for everything they did on the night and for saving Geraldine.
Mr Connaughton singled out one person in particular, local man Conor McDaid, who was the first to spot the lights of the car in the water and alerted the emergency services and raised the alarm.
He was Geraldine's guardian angel that night, he said, and for that he will be forever grateful.
Family members spoke lovingly of John, Tomás and Amelia, summing up their unique personalities and what they meant to the Mullan and Connaughton families and the community in which they lived.
Amelia was described as "our wee rascal, our wee angel". She was a "ray of sunshine, full of love". She was a "girly girl" and her mother Geraldine believed she was a teacher in the making.
Tomás was remembered as a "special, sweet and sensitive boy". He was "solid, admired by everyone and was growing into a fine, respectable young man".
He was sporty and musical and an avid reader. The two children had an unbelievable bond and Tomás doted on Amelia.
John was many things, the mourners were told, "a factchecker, a confidante". He was "our big wee brother, our safe harbour, a home bird".
"John with his garden centre was an important piece of the fabric and landscape of Moville and he loved that."
Three hearses brought the coffins of John, Tomás and Amelia to St Pius X Church in Moville.
Members of the local Sea Scouts of which Tomás was a member formed a guard of honour.
Nursing staff from Letterkenny University Hospital where Geraldine works, members of the local GAA club and pupils from the local secondary and national schools the children attended, joined the wider community outside the church for the mass.
