"You will be missed more than words can convey" - Róisín Cryan’s sister heartbreaking tribute at funeral

Róisín Cryan, whose fiancé is Mayo GAA star Conor Loftus, passed away on January 11. She was only 29 years of age.

Originally from Leitrim but living in Ballina, Ms. Cryan’s funeral took place in Carrick-on-Shannon, where gifts that were brought to the altar included photos of her and Conor travelling the world together, photos with her mother and sisters, and symbols of her life in Ballina, including where Conor proposed on Kilcumin beach.

Speaking at her funeral, the local priest joked that as the youngest of four girls, her father wished for a boy — but the whole family beamed with pride as she was christened in Carrick-on-Shannon.

"Róisín was a unique and extraordinary woman," mourners were told. "Full of life and vitality, gifted with a lovely sense of humour, always sensitive and attentive to the needs of others and always putting others before herself. She lived and celebrated and enjoyed her life to the full, making such a difference to the lives of those who were privileged to know and love her."

Speaking about her and Conor’s relationship, the priest said that "a lovely Leitrim girl stole the heart of a young Mayo man — the wonderful Róisín, who was the light of your life, Conor, who brought you such great joy and happiness, and many wonderful times you celebrated and shared together."

Róisín’s sister had written a heartbreaking poem about her sister, saying that words will not convey how much she is missed.

"Her heart pure and kind, with beauty inside and out, so rare to find," the poem said. "Though she’s gone from our sight, her spirit remains in each memory, in each smile, in each refrain. Róisín, you’re missed more than words can convey."

Speaking on behalf of her parents, a relative said that despite not being drawn to the GAA, Róisín began cheering on Crossmolina and Mayo after meeting her fiancé Conor, whom mourners heard was her soulmate.

"From the moment they met, Conor became a cherished part of her life," he said. "Before Conor, Róisín wasn’t particularly drawn to the GAA — she left that to her sisters. But for him, she embraced it wholeheartedly, cheering on Crossmolina and Mayo, and even watching matches broadcast in Irish on TG4 and learning the ins and outs of the game.

"Together they were true soulmates. They shared so much, from long, all summer holidays, to winter weekend breaks, creating memories that would last a lifetime.

"And even despite the challenges of distance in the beginning, when Róisín worked in Dublin and Conor in Ballina, and neither of them drove at the time, they always found a way to make it work.

"Their love truly knew no bounds."

"Mayo wasn’t just her second home, it was also her second family," mourners heard. "Her bond with Conor’s mother Margaret, his sister Gráinne, their dog Ted, and the extended Loftus and Kilcoyne family was deeply cherished."

"Róisín was a gift to all of us. And though her time here was far too short, her impact was profound. She taught us to love fiercely, to laugh often, and to cherish the little things. Her memory will live on in the hearts of everyone she touched."

*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.