Devastating.
Ashling Murphy's sister Amy has paid tribute to the late school teacher, describing her sister as "the light of our lives and the heart of our family."
As Ashling's funeral is set to take place today and as her family prepare for the hard day ahead, Amy Murphy wrote some heartbreaking words on Facebook last night for her 23 year old sister.
Amy said: "Ashling was the light of our lives and the heart of our family. Sadly we will lay her to rest tomorrow.
"Our family kindly asks that any musicians attending please bring their instrument and play music at lower town cemetery after mass should you wish.
"We would greatly appreciate privacy from media outlets at this time.
"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis."
Ashling's funeral is set to take place at 11am today at St Brigid’s Church, Mountbolus, with a
live stream set up along with the funeral being broadcast on RTÉ One.
A guard of honour is also being provided by pupils at Coolanarney National School in Blue Ball where
Ashling went to school, where the children will line along the roadside as her remains are driven from her home to the church.
Gardaí are expecting a huge turnout for the funeral and have asked that anyone planning on attending to assist gardaí and stewards with parking as traffic will be directed to a number of locations including Killoughey GAA grounds and green field sites at Murrays and Dalys.
