The late Ciara Ryan.

Tears mixed with the rain at Kilanerin this morning as huge crowds turned out to pay a final farewell to Ciara Ryan, (14), a talented young teenager who was full of energy and activity, who passed away suddenly last Thursday evening.

The pleasant playing fields of Kilanerin turned to tragedy when Ciara collapsed on the pitch, and despite the presence of a paramedic and speedy medical intervention, she failed to recover, plunging her family and community into shock and inconsolable feels of loss and grief.

Ciara, from Macoyle Upper, Inch, was participating in the regular football training session, when she started feeling unwell and her condition deteriorated and she was removed by ambulance to Wexford General Hospital.

Clubs and organisations that Ciara was associated with paid tribute with expressions of great loss of a great young sporting talent and provided a guard of honour as her coffin was brought to the church.

A family member speaking at Ciara’s Mass today, said: “Ciara had a great love of sport. Her short and full life came to an end on the playing field, a place that she loved most, the football pitch.”

Full coverage in THE GOREY ECHO this week.