Friends, family and schoolmates of Lily Slattery packed into St John the Baptist Church in Knock for the 16-year-old’s funeral service.Devastated mourners were asked not to “cry because she is gone but smile because she was here” at the funeral of a teenage equestrian star.

Friends, family and schoolmates of Lily Slattery packed into St John the Baptist Church in Knock for the 16-year-old’s funeral service on Friday.

Her coffin was brought into the church as “Carry Your Light” by Nick Wilson played. Holding back tears, her sister Morgan-Mai delivered an emotional eulogy.

She started by thanking the emergency services and the Gardai, along with medics, family, friends and the wider community for their support and help.

Morgan-Mai said: “It is so difficult to stand here today and try and find the words to describe Lily and Lily would have hated me doing so – as she hated any attention. So Lily, I’m sorry.

“But today, I’m not going to talk about the life that was lost but the life that was lived.

“Lily was a very quiet girl until her and her best friend Vicky got together and all the stories and fun came out.

“Lily was never someone who needed to be the centre of attention but behind the quietness was such a thoughtful and smart girl – now, not with the schoolbooks but with everything horsey related.

“Even though she was quiet. I can tell you as her sister – she was a smart little cookie. Just as her Junior Certs results proved this week.”

She continued: “Lily had a mind of her own, and she knew what she liked – her horses … if Lily had to pick between a day out shopping with me and Ruth-Elle or mucking out dirty horse stables – she would always pick option B.”

Morgan-Mai concluded her emotional eulogy by saying: “Today, we aren’t saying goodbye to Lily but ‘see you, later’

“Lily, I hope you are at peace now and I can’t wait to hear that contagious laugh and see your beautiful smile again. Don’t cry because she is gone but smile because she was here.

“We all love you so much until we meet again, Lily.”

Symbols to represent Lily’s life include her rosettes from horse racing, her samshield hat and show jacket, a homemade loaf of brown bread, her dog Bonnie’s collar, along with a family photo and pictures of her horses.

Lily passed away on October 5, just days after she celebrated her 16th birthday, was a rising star in the sport and the winner of the Equestrian Award at the 2025 Connaught Telegraph Mayo Young Sportstars Awards

Lily, from Knock in Co Mayo, had also qualified for the Dublin Horse Show with Captain Candyman, a horse bred by her grandfather Gabriel.

Following her untimely death, equestrian events across the Connaught region this weekend have been cancelled as the community mourns the young rider.