- The 28-year-old’s death is not being treated as suspicious, police said today
The fiancée of Irish football star Conor Loftus was laid to rest at a funeral attended by hundreds today – as police have said that her death in a river was not suspicious.
Roisin Cryan was recovered from the River Moy in Ballina, County Mayo, at the weekend after a two-day search involving over 500 people.
Today more than 300 mourners were told Roisin was devoted to her family and fiancé, and she was described as having a ‘smile that lit up a room.’
The 28-year-old’s death is not being treated as suspicious with a source in the Garda describing it as a ‘personal tragedy’.
She was reported missing last Thursday morning and an extensive search involving a local scuba diving club and volunteers from the River Moy Search and Rescue was immediately launched.
Her body was recovered on Saturday leading to an outpouring of tributes from family and friends.
A spokesman for the Garda said: ‘Emergency services were alerted to an incident at the River Moy in Ballina, Co. Mayo, on the morning of Thursday, 9th January 2025.
‘Initial searches were launched on Thursday for an individual believed to have entered the water. Efforts continued throughout Friday with the involvement of the Garda Water Unit, River Moy Search and Rescue, Coast Guard, Gráinne Uaile Sub Aqua Club, Teach an Uisce, and Civil Defence conducting searches for the individual.’
Roisin’s parents Joe and Marguerite and her three elder sisters Annmarie, Clare, Ruth and Maeve led mourners at the funeral mass held in Carrick-on-Shannon in County Leitrim, where she grew up.
There was standing room only at the St Mary’s Catholic Church in the centre of the town with the service led by the parish priest, the Rev Frank Garvey.
He told the mourners her death was ‘unexpected’ and described how she was devoted to her family and partner Conor who he said was the ‘love of her life.’
The 29-year-old plays for Crossmolina Deel Rovers and as a mark of respect following Roisin’s death the All-Ireland intermediate football final between Ballinderry and his team was postponed on Sunday.
A source in the community said: ‘Roisin was hugely popular and respected and she and Conor had a status here like a glamorous footballer and a Wag might in London. It’s hard to believe she has gone in this way.’
In a statement Conor’s club said:’ Crossmolina Deel Rovers are devastated at the news of the tragic incident that has occurred.
‘Our heartfelt thoughts are with the family and friends at this difficult time.
‘We have been in contact with our members involved, and they have requested that we all understand their need for privacy at this incredibly difficult time.
Many of Conor’s teammates attended the funeral along with work colleagues from the Ballina offices of Coca Cola where Roisin worked as a regional vendor scheduler.
The funeral mass began with family members bringing to the altar symbols that summed up her life, including a photo of her with Conor taken on a recent holiday in Italy that represented her love of travel.
Another photo showed Roisin and her mother on the beach where Conor proposed.
A coffee cup was also displayed as this represented Roisin’s love of meeting friends for a chat over a coffee while a pair of training shoes was for her love of the outdoors.
The Rev. Garvey said Conor has lost his ‘soulmate’ and that he and her many friends were suffering ‘immense pain, loss and disorientation.’
He said the best tribute he could make was that Roisin had an ‘inner and outer beauty that was fully on display’ and added her ‘smile lit up the room’.
Her sister Ruth read a poem dedicated to her younger sister while an eulogy read by her uncle Bernard said her love knew no bounds.’
The service was followed by burial in Drumlion Cemetery in Roscommon.
