Letterkenny's Mary Maguire reads at funeral of Pope Benedict

Letterkenny woman Mary Maguire read at the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Ms Maguire delivered the second reading, from the First letter of St Peter (1:3-9) before an estimated 100,000 people at St Peter's Square on Thursday.

Ms Maguire is heavily involved in the Saint Vincent De Paul organisation in Letterkenny.

Her voluntary work within the Raphoe Diocese saw her chosen to take part in the historical funeral, presided over by Pope Francis. The chief celebrant for the service was the Italian Cardinal, Giovanni Battista Re, who is the dean of the College of Cardinals.

Irish Red Cross distributes €420,000 from Creslough support fund

The organisation says ongoing liaising with community groups has been taking place and an oversight committee has been set up to oversee future management of the fund.

The Cathedral Administrator of the Raphoe Diocese, Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, worked at the Congregation of the Clergy during a spell in Rome.

Mgr Gillespie was a personal Master of Ceremonies to Pope Benedict and also worked closely with Pope Francis.

Downings native Fr Eamonn McLaughlin now works in the Dicastery of the Clergy, the new title for the Congregation of the Clergy.

Mgr Gillespie and Fr McLaughlin attended the funeral on Thursday. Bishop Emeritus of Raphoe Philip Boyce was also present.

Former pope Benedict died, aged 95, on Saturday. In 2013, he became the first pope in 600 years to resign, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger having been elected Pope in 2005 following the death of John Paul II.