The Funeral of Freya Tobin

On the 11th July, our lives drastically changed forever. What should have been another day of summer holidays fun turned into an unimaginable nightmare. In what can only be described as a tragic and utterly devastating event, our beloved Freya drowned in the River Suir while swimming with her dear friend Emily.

Freya was the kindest, most gentle soul to grace the community of Newcastle. There wasn't a single person who did not know her name, nor whom she wouldn't have said hello to when passing through the village. She touched the hearts of every single person that had the pleasure of knowing her, and you couldn't help but leave her company with a smile on your face. The biggest smile of all being on the face of her biggest admirer, her little brother Grayson.

I speak for so many when I say she has made us laugh uncontrollably throughout the years with her sense of humour. You couldn't possibly be a friend to her mother Shannen, auntie Amber, uncle Dylan without being Freya's friend also. Her presence was magnetic and this is shown by just how many friends she has made for herself in our community and beyond. It's safe to say she had all of us wrapped around her finger - but particularly, her nanny Catríona and grandad OJ.

Her death leaves behind a wave of deep sorrow and regret. The kind that such a small community will never truly recover from. In light of this, we want to come together as a community and help the Tobin family cover the costs of Freya's funeral. I hope we can rally together and give Shannen one less thing to worry about in these horrifically, troubling times.