The current Mary from Dungloe has spoken of how she was inspired and privileged to have known tragic Dawn Croke.
Caroline O’Donnell was one of hundreds of people who crammed into St Crona’s Church in Dungloe to say a final farewell to the mum-of-two.
Dawn, 32, was killed when she was struck by a pick-up truck in the grounds of St Crona’s National School last week.
Her last act was to push the six-year-old daughter of her partner Patrick McHugh away from the vehicle.
Caroline O’Donnell, who is also from Dungloe, won the overall title of Mary from Dungloe last year, ten years after Dawn was chosen to be the Dungloe Mary.
Caroline posted on social media “She was indeed one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met, and even more beautiful on the inside. I don’t think I’ve ever met Dawn and she hadn’t a smile on her face.
“She was taken far, far too soon. She was so humble and never boastful about how accomplished she was, or how truly amazing and inspiring she actually was.
“But she was amazing, inspiring and she accomplished so, so, much.”
Growing up in Dungloe, Caroline revealed how she watched in awe as Dawn inspired so many young girls in so many ways.
Caroline marvelled at how Dawn was a lifeguard, a member of the local GAA team, a model, a teacher and how she even sawm the English Channel.
She added that above all else, Dawn was cool.
“Being good friends with her brother, I’ve always noticed the way he talked about her, he adored the ground she walked on. Obviously the most amazing sister anyone could ask for.
“She was ridiculously cool! I always remember thinking that as her younger brothers friend, she was always the coolest person in my eyes, and always treated me so kind, no matter how annoying I was.”
And she revealed how Dawn had helped her to become the Mary from Dungloe winner.
“She was so, so, kind. She gave everything to every single thing she done and was involved in. I was chatting to Dawn after I was picked as the Dungloe Mary last year, exactly 10 years after she was the Dungloe Mary.
“She was never boastful, and so humble. Neither of us would’ve been “the girliest” of girls, we laughed, how the hell were we picked as Mary’s.
“But I honestly couldn’t think of a better person than Dawn to have ever represented our town. I feel so privileged and lucky to have known Dawn.”
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