A funeral service has been held for UK-born author Nell Saffron Raven and her young daughter Irena – known as Ira – after the pair nwere tragically killed in a car crash.
Speaking at the service, loved ones paid tribute to Nell as a talented writer, dedicated mother and cancer survivor, while Ira was remembered as a “kind, creative and joyful little girl” who cherished music, Irish dancing and her life in Co Cavan. Former journalist and author Nell, 53, and Ira, 10, from Gortnacleigh, Milltown in Belturbet, Co Cavan, were killed in a two-vehicle collision on Friday, July 24.
The fatal smash occurred on the R162 at Corclare, Sherlock. Ms Raven was pronounced dead shortly after the incident, while Ira passed away on Tuesday afternoon, July 28, at Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street Hospital. Originally from the UK, Ms Raven had recently obtained Irish citizenship.
On Saturday morning, Nell and Ira’s shared wicker coffin was carried into St Patrick’s Church, Milltown, to Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’, a cherished song of Nell and her husband Alex. A framed picture of the mother and daughter rested atop their coffin, reports the Irish Mirror.
Those attending the funeral Mass learned how Ira bestowed the gift of life to four children through organ donation.
Among the chief mourners at their 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. Battling his emotions, Alexandru shared with mourners that while he was “not a storyteller”, his wife had always possessed that gift.
He reminisced about encountering Nell in Oxford back in 2013, witnessing their family expand, and ultimately settling in the Cavan countryside, where they discovered friendship, community and contentment.
“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 informed mourners.
He recounted how Irena (Ira) arrived in 2016 at John Ratcliffe Hospital in Oxford and spoke of their contented family life in Oxford and subsequently near Southampton, until Nell expressed her desire to relocate to Ireland, telling him Ireland is the best place for writers.
He described to mourners how they all embarked on the ferry from Britain in 2019 and relocated 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.”
Honouring 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.
Recognising that he couldn’t comprehend the significance of their deaths, he questioned “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 heartfelt tribute by reciting Dylan Thomas’s Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night, a poem his wife had held dear.
Cherished belongings and symbolic items representing both Nell and Ira were placed at the altar, including a book by George Orwell — Nell’s most beloved author — alongside Ira’s treasured teddy, ‘Ratty’, her comfort toy and favourite possession. Also present were a vase of dried flowers Alex had gifted Nell on Valentine’s Day, and Ira’s dancing shoes, which had earned her a coveted spot on the Late Late Toy Show.
Ira’s closest friend and classmate, Liam Connolly, fondly recalled cherished moments from their friendship — from attempting to build a fort together only to demolish it with stones, to drenching one another with water pistols, and hurling their teddies skyward during a sleepover.
Liam also recounted a memorable chess match, during which 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 to the sound of Ira’s beloved track, ‘Hey Brother’ by Avicii.
Article continues below
The burial followed at Drumlane cemetery.
Ensure our latest stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.