'We are all shocked,' funeral takes place of murdered Irish grandmother

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Nenagh murder victim, Josephine “Josie” Ray was laid to rest on Friday afternoon following a funeral mass in St Mary of the Rosary Church, Nenagh.

Nenagh parish priest, Fr Pat Gilbert, delivered the mass and said: “We are all shocked at stunned by the sudden and tragic passing of Josie." 

“I know we will all struggle to make sense of a world without her vibrant presence.”

Continuing to pay tribute, he said: “Josie Ray was a woman of remarkable presence. She was well-known throughout Nenagh for her glamorous style and her blonde hair, she was a beauty of this town and community.

“Josie had a great heart, she had time for anyone. She was a true friend and a great neighbour in this close-knit community.”

For her eulogy, Josie's grandaughter Rosie took to the pulpit to pay tearful tribute to her beloved grandmother:

"My Nanny Josie as we all knew her, she was a lady. She loved her style, always in the glitter and loved her jewellery. She was was some woman for dancing, anything that was on in town she would be at it with my mother Sarah. She was always up for a laugh and a dance.

"She really appreciated everything. She had great time for all her grandkids and her great-grandkids.

"She loved going downtown for hours with my mam. She loved looking in the shops and getting a bit of grub in the Hi-B.

"She was a great woman of glamour and had great time for everyone that knew her.

"She is a Park legend and to all who knew her from the Park they will always remember her and miss her. 

"We will all miss you Josie."

In the days since her passing, the Nenagh community have taken to social media en masse to express their sorrow and shock at her passing.

In a post on Facebook, her grandson, Daniel Ray O’Brien said: “It is so tragic to our family, so very raw, this can't be reality.
“We lost our queen, our precious diamond.”

Hundreds have taken to social media to share their condolences: “Josie was an icon of Nenagh and will be missed dearly” said one commenter.

“Josie was greatly loved, and a little bit of Nenagh has died with her,” said another.