By Susan Gately - 16 September, 2016
Catriona Lucas
The parish priest of Liscannor and Moymore in Co Clare paid tribute to Caitriona Lucas at her funeral yesterday.
Catriona was a coastguard volunteer who died during a search and rescue mission on Monday.
Fr Denis Crosby said Caitriona had set an example to all through her selfless dedication to her community and in the way she had lived her life to the full.
“In Catriona’s life we have the perfect living out and embodiment of the mystery of love,” he told the packed parish church.
“It wasn’t just words and talking, but action and commitment.”
He said Caitriona had ‘mirrored the Kingdom’ with her compassion, her generosity, her childlike spirit and for the way she loved the world.
“To give your life doesn’t mean just to die. She gave her life – all her life, and she knew that living means giving.”
Catriona Lucas is the first volunteer coast guard to die in the course of duty.
She died on Monday when the rescue boat she was in capsized off the coast of Kilkee in turbulent waters as she and colleagues searched for a missing man.
Married to Bernard, who was also a long-time members of Doolin Coast Guard, they had two children Ben (20) and Emma (18).
At the funeral, her son Ben praised his mother in an emotional tribute. “You are my hero,” he said, describing her as “an exceptional person in every way”. She had given “one hundred percent.”
Her husband Bernard also spoke at the funeral reading a poem he had been given the night before.
“Your sacrifice will never be lost on us, your loyal crew. Anchors away, you beauty queen. You are in our hearts and souls,” he read.
And he urged mourners not to put things off. “Don’t put things off – do them now,” he said. “Life is short and time is very precious.”
The President of Ireland Michael D Higgins was represented at the funeral by his ADC, LT Cdr Patricia Burke Butler and the Taoiseach Enda Kenny by his ADC, Lt Col Kieran Carey.
Among the mourners was a large representation from the Coast Guard who formed a guard of honour as the coffin, draped in the tricolour, left the church.
Speaking to CatholicIreland.net after the funeral, Fr Denis Crosby said the funeral had been very hard but very moving.
He knew Catriona, a woman of faith, would have been surprised to see so many people there.
“It was the last thing in the world she would have dreamt of. She was a very unassuming person. She didn’t realise the gift she was.”
