The rally driver Craig Breen has been laid to rest today, following his funeral Mass at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Ferrybank.
Breen died following a test-driving crash last Thursday while preparing for the World Rally Championship's Croatia Rally. His co-driver James Fulton was unharmed.
The 33-year-old began his rallying career in 2009 before moving into WRC seven years later.
He was set to make his second WRC appearance of the season in Croatia after finishing an impressive second place at the Rally Sweden in February.
Huge crowds gathered to say their farewells to the popular star and to pay their respects to his parents Jackie and Ray, and his sister Kellie, as well as other family members and friends.
His remains were brought back from Croatia to Ireland at the weekend and lay in repose at his family home in Slieverue outside Waterford city on Monday.
He had been involved in motor racing from a young age, following the example of his father who is a former Irish rally champion.
He began karting at the age of eight and progressed to rallying in subsequent years, as a member of the Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club. He competed in top-class rallying throughout the country and abroad.
Breen's friend James Coleman, chairman of the motor club in Carrick, described Craig today as a "fantastic gentleman, a fantastic person and a fantastic talent" who will be remembered for many years.
Sister Kellie, describing the "little brother, the guy behind the helmet", said he left behind so many memories and stories from his all-too-short life.
"Craig was the cutest child," she recalled, who always wanted to play with anything to do with wheels.
"Craig was happiest when in whatever would allow him to get at the highest speed," she said.
"In his school yearbook he said he wanted to make people proud. Well Craigie, I can safely say, mission accomplished," his sister said amid tears and to warm applause in the church.
Parish priest Fr Kieran O'Shea said that a darkness had come over everyone after news of the death spread from last Thursday.
"And the darkness came so suddenly, and became so widespread, so quickly enveloping not just yourselves, but so many friends and fans, people who followed Craig's endeavours and achievements over so many years.
"A darkness that can only be experienced when somebody so young is taken from us, somebody who achieved so much, but somebody who, in the normal course of events, in our understanding, would have so much more to give and to receive and to achieve."
Fr O'Shea said that, in the last few days, Breen's many achievements had been listed by so many people, while there were also frustrations as well over the years.
"Craig was made of good stuff."
He urged all of Craig's friends to live their dream as "Craig did that".
Additional reporting: PA
