Mum and daughter, 10, killed in horror crash are buried together in same wicker coffin

Mum and daughter, 10, killed in horror crash are buried together in same wicker coffin Heartbroken loved ones have gathered to say goodbye to author Nell Raven and her daughter, Ira, both born in the UK A mum and daughter who were born in the UK before moving to start a new life in Ireland have been buried together in the same coffin after a tragic crash cut their lives short. Acclaimed author Nell Saffron Raven and her young daughter Irena, known as Ira, were killed in a two-car collision on Friday, July 24. Nell, 53, was a former journalist, and lived with her family. including 10-year-old Ira, in Gortnacleigh, Milltown in Belturbet, Co Cavan. Originally from the UK, Ms Raven had recently become an Irish citizen. An emotional funeral brought together the loved ones to celebrate the lives of the pair, including Nell's talents as a writer, her dedication as a mother, and her triumph over cancer. Ira was remembered as a "kind, creative and joyful little girl" who loved music, Irish dancing and life in Co Cavan. The fatal incident occurred on the R162 at Corclare, Sherlock. Ms Raven passed away shortly after the crash, while Ira succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday afternoon, July 28, at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street Hospital. A single wicker coffin carrying Nell and Ira was brought into St Patrick's Church, Milltown on Saturday morning to the strains of 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen, a favourite song of Nell and her husband Alex. A framed photograph of the mother and daughter was placed atop their coffin, reports the Irish Mirror. During the funeral Mass, mourners learned that Ira had posthumously given the gift of life to four children through organ donation. Among the chief mourners at the funeral Mass were Nell's devastated husband and Ira's father Alexandru, daughters and sisters Eveline Margalla Kemp and Violet Elizabeth Kemp, parents and grandparents Erik Raven and Christina Smith, and Nell's sisters Daisy Raven and Poppy Sharrock. Struggling to contain his emotions, Alexandru addressed the mourners, admitting he was "not a storyteller", but his wife had always been one. He reminisced about meeting Nell in Oxford in 2013, witnessing their family expand, and ultimately settling down in rural Cavan, where they discovered friendship, community, and joy. "When I met Nell, she already had two girls of her own, Eveline and Violet. They were very sweet kids, bright and gorgeous. It didn't take too long and soon after I became the fourth member of their family," Alexandru shared with those gathered. He revealed that in 2016, their daughter Ira was born at John Ratcliffe Hospital in Oxford, and spoke fondly of their blissful family life in Oxford and later near Southampton, until Nell expressed her desire to relocate to Ireland, believing it to be the ideal place for writers. Alexandru recounted how they all embarked on the ferry from the UK in 2019 and made the move to Ireland. "It was very hard at the beginning but when the pandemic started in March 2020, we fell in love with a very old cottage in Cavan," he said. "We didn't hesitate in buying it and we made it our new home and from there on, we had a very happy life together." Paying tribute to Nell as a talented writer, dedicated mother and cancer survivor, he portrayed Ira as a "kind, creative and joyful little girl who embraced music, Irish dancing and life" in Cavan. Confronted with the incomprehensible loss, he confessed, "Is there any justice, or is there any meaning of what happened? I do not know. "But perhaps, like in all stories, not just the beginning, or the middle, or the end but the whole story is all that matters." He concluded his tribute by reciting Dylan Thomas's Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night, a poem his wife had treasured. Meaningful symbols and cherished belongings of Nell and Ira were placed upon the altar, including a George Orwell book, who served as Nell's greatest literary inspiration; Ira's beloved teddy, 'Ratty', her treasured comfort companion; a vase containing dried flowers that Alex had presented to Nell on Valentine's Day; and Ira's dancing shoes that secured her a spot on iconic Irish TV programme The Late Late Toy Show. Ira's closest friend and classmate, Liam Connolly, reminisced about their cherished moments together, recalling how they attempted to construct a fort only to hurl stones at it afterward, their water pistol battles, and during sleepovers when they would launch their teddies as high as possible. Liam also remembered their chess matches and how Ira concealed the king piece outside "because she was fed up playing chess with me. "Ira was one of my best friends and I will miss her a lot," Liam told mourners. Their coffin was carried from the church as Ira's beloved song 'Hey Brother' by Avicii echoed throughout. The interment followed at Drumlane cemetery.