Hundreds of mourners turned out on Wednesday at the Mass of the Angels in Belclare to pay respects to tragic traffic victims Kate and Grace Gilmore, who were laid to rest in the same coffin.

Two-year-old Kate and 12-week-old Grace Gilmore were killed on Sunday afternoon when they were hit by a car during an afternoon walk with their father on the N17 road, near their home.

A relative of the family, Tom Gilmore, read a poem during the requiem mass on Wednesday.

Read More: Two-year-old and her 12 week old sister die in Galway road tragedy

“Daddy, please don’t look so sad. Mammy, don’t you cry.

“I’m in the arms of Jesus, as he sings a lullaby.”

The congregation gave a loud round of applause afterward.

Grieving parents Michelle and John Gilmore were married at the same church four years earlier.

Canon Michael Gleeson said the whole community has been shattered by Sunday’s tragedy.
“We can only guess at the grief and sorrow of John and Michelle,” he said.

He added that Kate and Grace were now saints in Heaven and safe in the embrace of Jesus.

The two sisters shared a single white coffin and were buried in nearby Killower Cemetery.