Tragic first communion girl laid to rest in her dress

Thousands mourn little girl killed in bouncy castle fall

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, May 17, 2011, 7:27 AM

Updated Tuesday, May 17, 2011, 10:18 AM

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Tragic girl will be buried in her Communion dress

Photo by Google Images

The little girl killed in a freak bouncy castle accident has been buried in her prized First Holy Communion dress.

Amy Byrne was laid to rest in West Waterford on Tuesday morning, just three days after she died so tragically.

The eight-year-old was killed just hours after making her First Holy Communion when a gust of wind blew the bouncy castle away.

The First Communicant was thrown from the castle and died from head injuries sustained in the fall.

Wearing the white dress she had worn on the same altar only days previously, Amy also had her first prayer book and her rosary beads by her side as she was laid to rest after Mass of the Angels at St Gobnait’s Church.

The 14 classmates from Scoil Naomh Gobnait national school in Coolnasmear who celebrated their First Communion with Amy on Saturday, former a guard of honor for her white coffin.

Heartbroken parents Paul and Lorraine and younger brothers Thomas and Michael were comforted by family and friends at the service.

Parish priest Fr Michael Kennedy said the community wanted to offer their support to the Byrne family and pay their respects to ‘a beautiful little angel who brought so much joy into her family’s lives’.

“No one thought that a day which dawned with such joy and happiness on Saturday would end up like this -- it is just so hard to believe,” said Fr Kenny.

School principal Eddie O’Halloran described Amy as a ‘model student’.

“We are all heartbroken over what happened. It is a desperate time for everyone involved,” said Principal O’Halloran.

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Bridget Quinn | May 17, 2011, 03:03 PM EDT

To think that such a innocent thing could cause such a tragedy to an innocent child, my heart goes out to the family and my prayers.

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bjwalters | May 17, 2011, 12:03 PM EDT

This is a tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to the little girl's family. A similar thing just happened here in the US, fortunately no one was inside at the time and there were no serious injuries but according to this story, it has been a common occurrence with these toys: http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/weather/6-injured-when-bouncing-castle-goes-airborn-05142011

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