A new mother who was killed in a horrific crash on the M8 near Cashel on Monday will be laid to rest this morning.
Nicola Kenny was en route to Dublin's Temple Street Children's Hospital to visit her newborn baby girl Lily Rose who had been rushed there with a high temperature following her birth the previous day when the tragedy occurred.
Accompanied by her mother Ann, the 26-year-old was in the back seat of the car driven by her aunt, Irene Whelan, when the family pulled over to the hard shoulder so Nicola could take a call from the doctors. It was good news; Lily Rose was well enough to be transferred back to Tipperary General Hospital.
Within minutes, a truck has crashed into the back of the car and Nicola was killed.
Ms Whelan suffered serious chest injuries and remains in intensive care in University Hospital Limerick where her condition has been described as “critical”. Nicola’s mum, Ann, was treated for injuries to her arms and shoulder.
The driver of the truck, a man from Armagh, was arrested at the scene.
Addressing the mourners at Nicola's removal at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles, last night, Rev Vincent Stapleton, C.C, Thurles, said the town had been "caught up in the darkness of what has happened."
"The loss of Nicola has affected everybody here in different ways - be it pain, shock, numbness or confusion, and anger and disbelief at what has happened," he said, adding that the community had come together to support the family "in the face of this undeserved pain and loss".
The grandaughter of Tipperary All Ireland star Paddy Kenny, her coffin was covered with a Tipperary hurling jersey, signed by the team. Her father, Patrick, and her brother, Patrick Jnr. led the mourners, while her Tesco colleagues formed a guard of honour.
Ms Kenny's funeral mass takes place at 11am in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles, with burial afterwards in St Patrick's Cemetery, Thurles.
The family has requested that anybody who wishes to make a donation make it to Clonmel Hospital Baby Unit.
Main image: Facebook. 
