A funeral mass was held for Daena Walsh, who was portrayed as a “remarkable and stunning mother” that will always hold a cherished place in people’s hearts. The serene environs of St Laurence O’Toole’s Church in Roundwood, situated amidst the Wicklow Mountains, provided a striking contrast to the violent manner in which she met her demise.
Her lifeless body, bearing stab wounds, was discovered in a burning apartment in Midleton, County Cork on the second day of August. Her significant other, 29-year-old Adam Corcoran, stands accused of her murder and has been remanded in custody, scheduled to present himself in court again on the 20th of August.
Wednesday morning witnessed hundreds attending the funeral mass to pay their respects to this mother of two, who originally hailed from Vartry Heights in Roundwood. The funeral announcement mentioned her survivors – her “beloved sons” Ezra and Kyson, her mother Caroline, her brothers Paul, Robbie, Callum, and Noah, her grandparents, as well as a wide network of relatives and friends.
Callum Walsh, while remembering Daena (27), said that she was a “magnificent sister and daughter” who had an undying love for her children and was utterly devoted to them. Her distinctive hair colour made her well known and she was a “mischievous sibling” who never let her smile fade. She was grounded and always reached out to aid anyone in distress.
The circumstances of her death were heartbreaking, he noted, but he expressed gratitude for the community’s support in the family’s time of crisis. Fr John Greene, who presided over the ceremony, encouraged the local community to watch over each other and urged those impacted by Daena’s passing to seek professional counselling. He also requested the attendees to pray for Daena’s children.
Following the funeral mass, a cremation service was conducted at McCrea’s Cremation Chapel located in Wicklow town.