Mum and daughter, 10, killed in horror crash are buried together in same wicker coffin

Mum and daughter Nell Saffron Raven and her 10-year-old daughter Irena, known as Ira, were laid to rest together in a single wicker coffin following a tragic car accident that claimed their lives. The burial took place at St Patrick’s Church in Milltown, Co Cavan, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, bringing together family members and friends to honor the lives of the two women. The fatal crash occurred on Friday, July 24, on the R162 near Corclare, Sherlock. Nell, 53, and Ira, 10, were among the victims in a two-car collision. Nell died shortly after the accident, while Ira succumbed to her injuries at Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street Hospital on Tuesday, July 28. Both women were originally from the UK but had recently become Irish citizens. Nell had lived in Gortnacleigh, Milltown, with her family, including Ira, since relocating to Ireland. Nell was a celebrated author and former journalist, known for her work and resilience in overcoming cancer. Her daughter Ira was described as a “kind, creative and joyful little girl” who loved music, Irish dancing, and life in County Cavan. At the funeral, a framed photograph of the mother and daughter was placed atop their wicker coffin, accompanied by the strains of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” a song dear to Nell and her husband, Alex. Alexandru, Ira’s father and Nell’s husband, delivered a heartfelt speech during the funeral Mass, struggling to contain his grief. He recalled meeting Nell in Oxford in 2013 and how their family grew, eventually settling in rural Cavan. He spoke of their journey from the UK to Ireland, noting that they boarded a ferry from the UK in 2019 and settled into a cottage in Cavan. He described their early struggles adjusting to life in Ireland but highlighted how they found happiness in their new home. “I was not a storyteller,” Alexandru admitted, “but my wife was.” He reflected on the joy of their growing family, mentioning Nell’s two daughters, Eveline and Violet, whom he described as “very sweet kids, bright and gorgeous.” He recounted how Ira was born in 2016 at John Ratcliffe Hospital in Oxford and how their family moved closer to Southampton before Nell decided to move to Ireland, believing it would provide the best environment for her writing career. Alexandru paid tribute to Nell as a gifted writer, devoted mother, and cancer survivor, and to Ira as a vibrant child who embraced life fully. He acknowledged the profound loss, questioning whether there was any meaning or justice in what had transpired. Yet, he offered hope, suggesting that the true value of their lives lay in the entirety of their stories rather than just their endings. In a touching moment, he recited Dylan Thomas’s poem Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night, a piece that Nell had cherished. Symbols of their lives were placed on the altar, including a George Orwell book, a favorite of Nell’s, and Ira’s beloved teddy bear, named ‘Ratty,’ which had been her constant companion. The funeral service marked the final farewell to two women whose lives touched many, leaving behind a legacy of love, creativity, and enduring memory.