The funeral for the extended family members who tragically drowned in Donegal at the weekend has taken place in Derry.

The five died after their car slipped on algae and went off the pier in Buncrana on Sunday evening.

They were Sean McGrotty, his two sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), the boys' grandmother Ruth Daniels and her daughter Jodi-Lee.

Mr McGrotty's four-month-old daughter Rionaghac-Ann was the only survivor - she was saved thanks to the bravery of her father, and Davitt Walsh who swam out to help the family.

Her mother - Louise James - read a poem at the funeral of five of her closest family. 

Newstalk.com reporter Sean Defoe told the Pat Kenny Show earlier there were very sombre scenes in the area ahead of the funeral at the Holy Family Church in Ballymagroarty.

Awfully sad scenes in Derry as the three white coffins are led into the church followed by the two larger ones RIP pic.twitter.com/wNzpQeeMcm

— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) March 24, 2016

Parish Priest Fr Paddy O'Kane is a family friend and has spent time with the children's mother. He says "I just held her in my arms...words wouldn't come to me".

A book of condolence has been open in the church for the past few days.

Members of the public have also opened crowd funding pages for Louise, with more than €65,000 raised so far.

A meeting of Derry City Council has been cancelled as a mark of respect.