Hundreds♒ 🐻of people lined the route as the cortege, led by the ex-Frank Meagher Ford Sierra RS Cosworth Breen restored and rallied in Killarney last December, made its way to Sacred Heart Church in Ferrybank. 

Draped in an Irish tricolour, the 33-year-old’s coffin was carried into the building by six pallbe✅arers, two of whom were James Fulton who escaped the crash unharmed, and Breen’s for♒mer co-driver, Paul Nagle. 

Both men were visibly upset as they helped to position the coffin into place at the front of the chapel before giving 🐷the casket a gentle pat and taking their seat with the rest of the c🅰ongregation.

Beside the coffin, on a table, a number of items that Breen became synonymous for were placed, including his race gloves and Bell helmet, a ‘CB’ embroidered bobble hat, and a box of Bar꧋ry’s Tea –🤡 his preferred drink of choice. 

“We gather with immense sadness and grief. How do you find the words for all of this –༺ it is nearly impossible?” Parish priest, Father Kieran O’Shea, asked in his homily. “It𝓡 is an unbelievably sad day,” adding: “In people’s imaginations, no one could ever have imagined that this could be real.”

Some of tho🤪se who gave personal tributes to the nine-time World Rally Championship podium finisher included presenter and pundit Becs Williams and her colleague, Mike Chen. Both enjoyed a harmonious working relationship with Breen and became very close personal friends with him off the stages. 

Chen described Bree🎀n as a “super💫star”, someone who can “never be replaced” and a person that believed “family and friends meant the most”, while sponsor James Coleman said the Waterford native was “the people’s champion”. 

Craig is survived꧙ by his father Ray, mother Jackie, and sister Kellie who said it was “mission accomplished” by the Hyundai Motorsport driver as he made “everyone happy” in a career that spanned 16 years. 

She said: “He was ridiculously generꦬous and poured a lot of what he got back into the sport. Craig wo𝓀uld do anything to avoid making people upset; he would shy away from anything that would anyone feel bad. 

“It seems so crue🤡l now whenever his friends and🐲 family are living through such hurt. He would hate to see tears shed on his behalf.  

“Craig was lucky enough to have a mi🌸llion stories. He will live on through his legacy, so𓃲 please keep his spirit alive for all of us,” she added. 

Following the Service of Thanksgiving, mourners made th♌eir way to the cemetery adjoining the Sacred Heart for his committal.