Hundreds attend emotional vigil for little Emili 

HUNDREDS of people attended an emotional vigil this evening for the little girl who died tragically at Fountainstown on Tuesday.

Today would have been Emili Roman’s eighth birthday, and hundreds of people attended a vigil for Emili in Crosshaven Square at 8pm today.

Emili had been swimming off Fountainstown beach on Tuesday afternoon when she found herself in difficulty around at 4.30pm.

A major search operation followed with emergency services, assisted by local people, looking for the Crosshaven girl throughout the afternoon.

Emili’s body was recovered from the water around 7.45pm that evening and brought to Cork University Hospital.

Emili was a pupil in second class at Templebreedy National School, and her loss has left a pall of grief and shock over the Fountainstown and Crosshaven areas.

On Thursday evening, Emili's name was spelled out with tealights on the roundabout leading into the village square and a circle made up of candles and flowers was on proud display in the village square as a tribute to the little girl.

A special round of applause was also offered for the emergency services and volunteers who participate in the recovery operation, some of whom were in attendance.

It is also understood that Emili's father attended the vigil. 

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Audrey Buckley, who was among those attending the vigil, said: "A book of condolences was set up by the community. There ended up being two books due to the number people wishing to show support for the family. We had thought about opening it to the public on Wednesday but everything was still so raw. Our plan is to gift the family the book of condolences in a week’s time.

“There was a donation of 100 candles," Cllr Buckley added. "Everyone wanted to find some way to show their support."

Emili will lie in repose at Forde’s Funeral home in Carrigaline from 5pm to 6pm on Friday, with Requiem Mass at 11.30am on Saturday in the Church of Our Lady and St John in Carrigaline and burial afterwards at St John’s Cemetery, Ballinrea.

The family has requested that everyone bring items like toys and teddy bears to the funeral, which will be thrown into Emili's grave after she is laid to rest. They also requested that everyone attending wears pink. 

A fundraiser to help Emili’s family pay for funeral expenses, and to ensure her funeral “is a heartfelt celebration of her beautiful life”, had, by Thursday evening, raised over €37,000.