Rally driver Daire Maguire has been described as having an "unstoppable joy and love" for his family at his funeral in Fermanagh.

The 46-year-old died alongside his co-driver Gene McDonald in a tragic crash at the Sligo Stages Rally on Sunday afternoon.

Gifts, including a motorsports jacket, were brought to the altar at the beginning of his funeral mass this morning.

Younger members of his family read prayers for "all rally drivers and those in motorsports" during the service, as well as for the emergency services who attended the scene.

The coffin of Daire Maguire is carried from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, in Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh following his funeral, 20-07-2023. Image: PA Images / Alamy

Visiting priest Father Saghar Sabir paid special tribute to him.

“Truly Daire’s unstoppable joy and unending love and sacrifice are something not only to remember fondly but to take hold of and celebrate,” he said.

“Where one went, they all went"

He noted that Daire referred to his family as the ‘Bear Family’ and explained that this was because bears stick together.

“They were like that,” said Fr Sabir. “Where one went, they all went.”

Gene McDonald and Daire Maguire in a crash during a National Rally Championship event in Sligo.

He described the Fermanagh man’s death as a “sudden tragedy.”

“To lose a much-loved husband and a greatly loved father brings up emotions that no doctor can heal,” he said.

“His family, his friends and this Church community shall deeply and surely miss him.

“My prayers and sympathies go out to all who are in pain and are left lost because of this sudden tragedy.”

"Tremendous love"

Fr Sabir also paid tribute to Daire’s passion for motorsports

“Daire had a tremendous love of cars and had an old scrap in his parents’ house,” he said.

“He then took up rallying and motorsport over 20 years ago, rallying all over Ireland and on a few occasions, he went overseas.”

Daire is survived by his wife Breda, his children Meghan and Christopher and his parents Eamonn and Bernie.

Gene McDonald’s funeral will be held St Mary’s Chapel in Barraghy at 12 Noon tomorrow.