Creeslough explosion: Jessica Gallagher and Martin McGill funerals take place

The funeral Mass for Jessica Gallagher was held in her home village of Creeslough

The funerals have taken place of two victims of the explosion that killed 10 people in Creeslough, County Donegal.

Masses were held at St Michael's Church in the village for Jessica Gallagher, 24, and 49-year-old Martin McGill.

Mourners at Ms Gallagher's funeral were told that she would be remembered for the "ripples of love, affection and warmth" she left behind.

Mr McGill was described as having a "beautiful, gentle soul".

They were among the victims of the disaster at a service station in the small village in the north-west of Ireland last Friday.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion is taking place but police have said it appears to have been an accident.

The building complex where the blast happened included a service station, a convenience shop and residential apartments.

The store, which included a post office, was the main shop serving the 400-strong village, which has been mourning an unprecedented loss of life in its community.

Jessica Gallagher was visiting her boyfriend at his apartment above the shop when the explosion happened

During Ms Gallagher's funeral Mass, Creeslough priest Father John Joe Duffy said she had a "radiant smile".

"She always brought the sun whether things were happy or difficult," he said.

Mourners were told how the fashion designer, who was to start a new job in Belfast on Monday, used Donegal tweed as a feature in her work.

The county was "in her heart", Fr Duffy continued.

He said Pope Francis had conveyed that he was "heartbroken" by the disaster.

Irish President Michael D Higgins was represented at both of Tuesday's funerals by his senior aide.

Mr McGill, who was originally from Scotland, was described as a devoted son who cared for his elderly mother.

He moved to Creeslough to look after both of his parents but his father had since died.

A piper played as the hearse carrying Martin McGill arrived at St Michael's Church

Mourners heard how he was "so much loved and so loving" to his "dearest mum" Mary and the rest of his family.

The churchgoers were told that caring for his mother had got him through the recent death of his father and how he was always running errands for those he loved.

"Martin had a beautiful, gentle soul - a kind person where caring flowed from him," said Fr Duffy.

"Each Sunday he would be in this church lighting candles - he lit more candles than I did.

"He will be with his dad now," the priest directly told Martin's mother Mary.

Friends described Martin McGill as a devoted son who looked after his mother

Mr McGill was a supporter of Celtic Football Club, which said it would pay tribute to the victims by holding a period of silence before Tuesday's Champions League tie against RB Leipzig.

The club's players will also wear black armbands during the match.

At his funeral his love of the club was referenced many times and Fr Duffy said the gesture would have meant a lot.

Close-knit community unites in grief

by Davy Wilson, BBC News NI in Creeslough

The village of Creeslough fell silent twice in as many hours on Tuesday.

First when the hearse carrying Jessica Gallagher was driven through the village, where family, friends and neighbours had gathered to remember the young woman who had travelled the world and come home to start her career.

Then again when a lone piper accompanied the funeral cortege of Martin McGill as it made the short journey from his family home to the church.

One man offered a salute as the cortege passed; another wiped tears from his face.

The simple white church where many of the funerals will take place is in the foothills of the Donegal mountains.

Many stood outside as the building was too small to accommodate all of the mourners.

Under grey, rainy skies, people stood together with heads bowed, tearful and in solemn silence.

They found comfort with each other - an entire community united in its loss, together in its grief.

Eight people who were injured in the explosion remain in hospital.

A man in his 20s is critically ill in St James's Hospital in Dublin.

On Monday, nurses from Letterkenny Hospital lined the road as the coffin of another victim James O'Flaherty, who was originally from Sydney in Australia, was taken from a chapel in the town.

His wife Tracey is a nurse at the hospital and her colleagues gathered outside the chapel as the hearse drove past.

His funeral is due to take place on Wednesday morning and a service is set for the afternoon for two other victims, Catherine O'Donnell and her son James.

Leona Harper and Martina Martin will be buried on Thursday.

• Who were the victims of the petrol station explosion?

• Creeslough spirit shines amid darkness of tragedy

Candlelit vigils have been held and messages of sympathy have poured in from across Ireland and around the world.

Books of condolence have been opened across Ireland and in the Guildhall in Londonderry, in Belfast City Hall and at Stormont.

Irish police say the evidence gathered so far suggests the explosion was a "tragic accident"

Special messages have come from the Pope and King Charles.

On Tuesday Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin led expressions of sympathy in the Dáil (Irish parliament).

He said the 10 people who died represented "everything good and kind and beautiful about Creeslough, Donegal and our country".

"Fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, each one an enormous, incalculable loss in the lives of those around them," he said.