'Shine bright sweetheart' Zara Murphy's father says at his daughter's funeral

"Zara, you are one in a million, shine bright sweetheart", the funeral of Zara Murphy heard today, from her father Brian in a eulogy to the 13 year old girl from Termonfeckin who passed away tragically last Thursday.

Zara died after becoming ill during a football match in the town last week. She had been playing for the Termonfeckin Celtic FC under-14 team in a match against Glen Magic last Thursday as part of the Louth School Girls League. Emergency services were called to the scene. She was brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital where she later died.

A huge crowd attended Zara's funeral mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Drogheda, where they heard Zara's father, Brian, describe her as their "amazing, beautiful and loving daughter". 

"We are utterly heartbroken and our worlds have been turned upside down", Zara's father continued. "Zara loved life and lived every day to the fullest. Everybody she seemed to meet loved her back too.

"Zara was a strong willed, sassy, funny and exuberant girl. She gave everything she took up with 100% commitment. She loved sport, especially football, soccer and gymnastics. She was determined she would make it at one of them, a major ambition to be bigger and better than Katie McCabe. While she was certainly never going to be big in height, her passion, drive and willpower, made her the baller she was.

Zara friendships were important to her and, as her father Brian described, were a source of comfort to the family over the past number of days. "She was always talking of new friends, I used to find it hard to keep up, but over the last couple of days those friendships are what has helped us through this difficult period.

In a message to her friends, he added, "Angela, Ben and I hope some of you will make it for Zara, if you play county, or for Ireland or just being your best self. We know Zara will be looking over you." A round of applause from those gathered followed the moving eulogy from Zara's father.

At the beginning of the ceremony, mementos were brought to the alter, remembering the full life that Zara packed into her 13 short years. Her friends, Eve, Nicole and Gabriella, brought up a photo of Zara and a curling iron, to remember Zara's love of style.

From Newtown Blues, Frieda, Maddie, Orla, Glory and Sheila brought up a Cúl Camp jersey, Zara's first club jersey, a team picture, a trophy from a tournament and a memorial stone. From Termonfeckin Celtic, Abbey, Sage and Catriona brought up Zara's jersey, a match ball and her captain's armband.

Abbey, Ella, Cara and Anna, representing Glen Magic FC, brought up Zara's jersey and the cup final winning shield, where Zara scored the winning goal. From St Oliver's National School, Lily, Caitlin, Saoirse and Jake brought up the Class of '24 hoodie, a picture of them winning the school final, a winning medal and the shield which Zara lifted as captain.

The local priest told those present that "these mementos of life testify loudly what a fulfilled life Zara had, happy, so much happening, so many friends. And perhaps all the more of this we bring today, our sense of shock and devastation, the sudden and cruel passing of Zara at such a tender age last Thursday evening, we are heartbroken and bereft. We're uncomprehending that such a beautiful gift is without warning and so unfairly snatched from us.

"Less than three months ago, Zara was here with St Oliver's National School for confirmation, a day of great joy. Who'd have thought that within such a short period, we'd be back here in such sorrow. Zara is in fact laid out in her confirmation outfit. And of course today, we're all conscious that essentially, there was no chance to say goodbye, to say thank you, to say I love you, in the way we here present would have wished."

Referring to a condolence shared on RIP.ie, where one father used the word 'surreal' to refer to this moment, the local priest added that it's meaning "certainly encapsulates how we feel and are in fact today". Following the funeral mass, Zara's burial took place at Newtown Cross Lawns Cemetery, Termonfeckin Road, Drogheda.

Zara is remembered by her heartbroken parents, Brian and Angela, her brother Ben, nana Jacinta, granda Joe, aunts Pauline, Brenda and Sinead, uncles Alan, Micheal and Kevin, cousins Claire, Saul, Matthew, Jack, Ana, Caimin, Lucy, Beth, Caitlyn, Jimmy and Marty, her large circle of school friends and team-mates in soccer, gaelic and gymnastics. May she rest in peace.