Mum-of-two Dawn Croke laid to rest after giving her life to save little girl

The Donegal mother-of-two who lost her life saving a little girl last week has been laid to rest.

Hundreds turned out to remember Dawn Croke in her native Dungloe today. Dawn was killed when she was struck by a jeep in the grounds of St Crona's National School in the town on Thursday evening. She had pushed her partner Patrick McHugh's six-year-old daughter out of the vehicle's path seconds before. Mourners at the funeral heard that Dawn was loved not just by her family but by the whole community.

"To this family she was a dream, she was a pleasant, outgoing and happy person and she gave so much not only to them but to the entire community," celebrant Fr Pat Ward told the congregation who packed into St Crona's Church. "It's because of the kind of person she was that it's important that as we gather here that we remember her for who she was and the beauty of who she was and what she carried within."

Dawn's sister Emily and father Tony also paid tribute to her, reports the Irish Times. As symbols of her life were brought to the altar, Emily explained the significance of each. There was makeup and jewellery, including an engagement ring from her partner Patrick, a swimming cap, socks, a CD and the sash she wore when she won the local Mary from Dungloe contest in 2008. A photo of her two sons, Jason and Callum, was also brought up. "She has made the world a better place by leaving these two beautiful boys here," Emily said. Dawn's father Tony thanked the emergency personnel who "fought" to keep his daughter alive.