Five young people died in the crash on Saturday evening.
Five young people, Chloe McGee (23) and Shay Duffy (21), both from Carrickmacross; Co Monaghan, Alan McCluskey (23) and Dylan Commins (23), both from Drumconrath, Meath and Chloe Hipson (21), from Lanarkshire in Scotland, died in the crash on Saturday evening.
They were travelling together in a Volkswagen Golf, and were on their way to Dundalk for a night out.
A sixth person who was in the car, also aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital for non-life threatening injuries, and has since been discharged.
Two other people, a man and a woman in their 20s, travelling in a separate car were also injured in the crash. They remain in hospital where they continue to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
A vigil is held at Sean McDermott’s GFC in Mountrush, Ardee, Co Louth (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
Ms McGee will be laid to rest on Saturday. A death notice on RIP.ie reads: “Missed beyond words by her parents Kieran and Eileen, her siblings Stephen (Laura), Aaron (Chloe) and Nicola (Padhraic), aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, neighbours, her colleagues and students in Ó Fiaich College and wider teaching community and her many friends.”
Clockwise from top left: Chloe McGee, Chloe Hipson, Alan McCluskey, Dylan Commins and Shay Duffy
News in 90 Seconds – Wednesday November 19
Ms McGee will lie in repose at her home in Barnadonagh, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan this week from 2pm each day.
There will be a removal on Saturday morning, followed by a funeral mass at St Joseph’s Church in Carrickmacross at 11am. She will be laid to rest afterwards in St Joseph’s Cemetery.
A vigil is held at Sean McDermott’s GFC in Mountrush, Ardee, Co Louth (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
Mr McCluskey will lie in repose at his home in Drumconrath tomorrow from 10am, followed by a removal on Friday.
A funeral mass will be held at St Peter and Paul’s Church in Drumconrath at 10am on Friday, followed by a burial in Drumconrath Cemetery.
“Alan will be forever remembered and greatly missed by his heartbroken family, parents Martin and Bernie, sisters Sharon, Tracey and Kellie, brothers-in-law Conleth McAlinden and Alan Wall, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of great friends,” the death notice reads.
A vigil is held at Sean McDermott’s GFC in Mountrush, Ardee, Co Louth (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
Mr Commins will lie in repose at his home in Ardee, Co Louth tomorrow and Thursday between 4pm and 8pm, followed by removal on Friday and a funeral mass held at the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady in Ardee.
He will be laid to rest in Old St Mary’s Cemetery in Ardee.
A death notice published on Monday for Shay Duffy says his funeral arrangements will be published at a later date.
A vigil is held at Drumconrath GFC, Co Meath (Photo: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire)
It comes as hundreds of people have taken part in vigils this evening to remember the five young friends.
Three separate vigils were arranged in Ardee, Drumconrath and Aughnamullen, Co Monaghan; to pay tribute to the deceased this evening.
A vigil is held at Drumconrath GFC, Co Meath (Photo: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire)
At Drumconrath Gaelic Football Club, hundreds gathered with candles and mobile flashlights for a vigil on a cold, dark and windy night.
The club’s flag was flown at half mast as prayers were offered to the McCluskey family, the others injured and killed in the crash as well as the emergency services who responded to the scene.
Some of those gathered wiped away tears as songs were played in tribute to those affected while the congregation also said a decade of the rosary.
A table carrying photographs of Mr McCluskey was also on display.
Fr Finian Connaughton told the Drumconrath grouping that they were just “one community of five communities in a state of shock”.
He said while people may feel that there is nothing that can be done, this is not true as the community coming together was an expression of support to those affected.
He said he was confident that the McCluskeys and other affected families are “very well aware” that people are gathering and praying for them.
Hundreds more gathered at the back of Sean McDermott’s GFC in Ardee where Rev Dermot Clarke, Deacon Parish of Haggardstown and Blackrock, was in attendance and led the candlelight service.
Meanwhile, gardaí continue to investigate all the circumstances behind the crash and issued a renewed witness appeal.