AUTHOR NELL RAVEN AND DAUGHTER IRA BURIED TOGETHER AFTER JULY CRASH

Author Nell Saffron Raven and her daughter Irena, known as Ira, have been buried together in a shared wicker coffin following a fatal two-car collision on 24 July. Nell, 53, a former journalist and writer originally from the UK, died shortly after the crash on the R162 at Corclare, Sherlock in County Cavan, Ireland. Ira, 10, sustained injuries in the collision and died on the afternoon of 28 July at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street Hospital. The funeral service took place on Saturday morning at St Patrick's Church, Milltown.

The coffin was carried into the church to the entrance song 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen, a favourite of Nell and her husband Alexandru. A framed photograph of the mother and daughter was placed upon their coffin. Mourners heard that both Nell and Ira were remembered for their gifts: Nell as a talented writer, devoted mother and cancer survivor; Ira as a kind, creative and joyful child with a passion for music, Irish dancing and life in County Cavan. Nell had recently been granted Irish citizenship. Chief mourners included Alexandru, Nell's daughters Eveline Margalla Kemp and Violet Elizabeth Kemp, parents Erik Raven and Christina Smith, and Nell's sisters Daisy Raven and Poppy Sharrock.

During the funeral Mass, those gathered learned that Ira had given the gift of life to four children through organ donation. Alexandru addressed the mourners, acknowledging he was "not a storyteller" but reflecting on his wife's gift for narrative and their life together since meeting in Oxford in 2013.