Mourners at the funeral mass of a rally driver who died after a crash in Sligo have heard how he had an “unstoppable joy and love” for his family and motorsport.
Daire Maguire (46) from Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh died after the Ford Escort he was co-driving lost control and crashed into a wall during the Sligo Stages Rally on Sunday.
His co-driver, Gene McDonald (35) from Co Cavan was also killed.
Addressing the packed church, Father Fabir said ‘when tragedy strikes in our lives we are left with unexpected hole in our hearts’.
The cleric added that the death of Daire “as a much loved husband and father brings up emotions that no doctor can heal”.
Mourners also heard that “Daire’s the tremendous us love of cars saw him going all over Ireland and overseas.
“No matter where the rally was, the family were there too,” added the cleric. “They have watched them at various stages of a rally and were on their way to meet him but God had other ideas.
“Daire was inordinately proud of Breda and his two children. And truly Daire’s unstoppable joy and unending love is something to take hold of and celebrate”.
He was buried afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.