The month's mind mass for Buncrana woman Danielle McLaughlin will be held this evening (Thursday).
The young tourist was murdered in the Goa region of India on March 14th. Danielle had been celebrating the Holi Festival when her life was tragically cut short.
The month’s mind mass for Danielle will be held at St Mary’s Chapel, Cockhill, Buncrana at 8pm.
Danielle’s mother Andrea is looking back on the events of last month with many sad memories. She remembers talking to her daughter that fateful week and hearing about how happy was as she enjoyed her travels abroad.
“Today is hard as a month today around this time I was talking to her and she was so happy,” Andrea told Donegal Woman.
Andrea and Danielle’s four younger sisters were joined by hundreds of friends, family and mourners at St Mary’s Chapel last March 30th to say their final farewell at her funeral.
Many kind tributes were made at the ceremony to celebrate Danielle’s vibrant life and personality. The young adventurer was remembered as a kind and loving person and a loyal friend.
Chief celebrant at the funeral Father Francis Bradley spoke of the positive impact Danielle had on everyone she met: “She has been mourned by people of all ages who have been touched by her life and challenged by her death. Although intensely private, Danielle has made a huge impression on people’s lives. She was disarmingly kind and forgiving; her warm nature and open heart drew people into her ever-widening, extensive and international circle of friends.
“A brief glance at the vast array of tender messages for Danielle’s mother Andrea, her family and friends, shows the immense esteem in which she was held. She had a gentle but powerful way with her – for it seems that just one encounter with her was enough to change someone’s life.”
Earlier this month, a childhood friend of Danielle’s released a song to raise funds for the fight for justice for her death. A senior barrister is to be appointed for the murder trial in India using funds collected through a download entitled The Fire Of Hope: A Song For Danielle McLaughlin.
Musician Paul Caldwell said on the release of the song: “Danielle was the happiest, most caring, and loving girl I think I ever knew. She was always smiling and full of energy. Learning about her death inspired me to write this song, and provided me with a way of dealing with the passing of a beautiful soul.”