Hundreds of people gathered last night to mourn the five young people killed in a horrific car crash in Co Louth, Ireland at the weekend.
Locals said the tragedy has cast a ‘dark cloud’ over the town as three separate vigils were arranged – in Ardee, Co. Louth; Drumconrath, Co. Meath; and Aughnamullen, Co. Monaghan – to pay tribute to the deceased.
The victims in the crash were: Chloe McGee, 23, and Shay Duffy, 21, both from Carrickmacross in Co. Monaghan; Alan McCluskey, 23, from Drumconrath in Co. Meath; Dylan Commins, 23, from Ardee in Co. Louth; and Chloe Hipson, 21, from Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
At Drumconrath GFC, hundreds gathered last night 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.
Fr Finian Connaughton told the attendees that they were just ‘one community of five communities in a state of shock’.
At Aughnamullen Sarsfields GAA Club in Co. Monaghan, Ava Sheridan, a cousin of Chloe McGee, sang Amazing Grace.
Hundreds more gathered at the back of Seán McDermott’s GFC in Ardee where Rev Dermot Clarke led the candlelight service.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, Ardee councillor Dolores Minogue described the tribute to as ‘beautiful and moving’.
Hundreds of people gathered last night to mourn the five young people killed in a horrific car crash in Co Louth, Ireland at the weekend. Pictured: A vigil is held at Sean McDermott’s GFC in Mountrush, Ardee, Co Louth
Locals said the tragedy has cast a ‘dark cloud’ over the town as three separate vigils were arranged – in Ardee, Co. Louth; Drumconrath, Co. Meath; and Aughnamullen, Co. Monaghan – to pay tribute to the deceased. Pictured: Friends and locals pictured last night at Aughnamullen Sarsfields GAA Club in Co. Monaghan
Garda at the crash scene on the L3168 just outside Dundalk, Co Louth.
‘The town has done everything to show their support for the families affected by this tragedy,’ she said.
Another vigil will take place at Ardee’s Church of the Nativity this evening, she added.
‘I imagine there will be a dark cloud over the town for some time. This tragedy was devastating and hard to comprehend,’ Cllr Minogue remarked.
Ms Hipson had been studying quantity surveying at the Dundalk Institute of Technology after arriving from Scotland.
An online fundraiser set up for her family by an amateur football club in her hometown has surpassed its target aimed at helping offset the cost to bring her remains home.
The GoFundMe page organised by Bellshill Amateurs, where Ms Hipson’s brother Ryan plays, has collected the equivalent of over €27,000 to date and described the deceased as ‘a young woman ready to live her life who was taken from her family far too soon’.
The five victims were travelling together in a Volkswagen Golf to Dundalk for a night out when they died in the crash on Saturday.
Chloe McGee, 23, from from Carrickmacross, had just secured her dream job before the tragic car crash
Alan McCluskey, 23, from Drumconrath, was one of three young men to die in the accident
Chloe Hipson, 21, from Lanarkshire in Scotland, died in the fatal collision on Saturday night
A sixth person, a man aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries but was discharged yesterday.
Two other people, who were also injured in the crash between the Golf and a Toyota Land Cruiser, remain in hospital.
Ms McGee, from Carrickmacross, had just secured a permanent teaching position at the Ó Fiaich Institute of Further Education in Dundalk before the fatal crash shortly after 9pm on Saturday.
She had been ‘celebrating’ her new role, which was a ‘big thing’ for her, the school’s principal Padraig McGovern told RTE.
‘I was speaking with Chloe on Friday and she was full of fun. She was full of achievement and success and looking forward to the weekend and within 24 hours that changed, changed drastically.’
Chloe had been working as a woodwork and graphics teacher at the school in Dundalk.
Mr McGovern added: ‘To think that we’re going to school today and she won’t be there is an incredible shock.
Dylan Commins, 23, from Drumconrath, was one of five involved in the fatal incident on Saturday
Shay Duffy, 21, from Carrickmacross, also lost his life in the tragedy on Saturday night
‘And to convey that to students, to young people who find it difficult to process something, or even more difficult than we do, is just a major challenge.’
The family of Chloe Hipson, from Lanarkshire, Scotland, paid tribute to the ‘gem of a girl’.
Her aunt, Chanelle Hipson, said: ‘Don’t have the words — I will reply to everyone at some point. World has lost a bloody gem of a girl. Hearts breaking. I’m grateful and honoured to be your aunty beautiful.’
Another tribute, from Chantel Cullen, said: ‘Words can’t explain how heartbroken I am. The kindest soul with the purest smile. I’ll forever cherish all the memories we both made together. Growing up with you will forever hold a special place in my heart. I love you so much. Forever 21.’
Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris said a ‘veil of deep sadness’ has come over the country, while Irish police described the incident as ‘shocking and devastating’.
President Catherine Connolly added: ‘I am thinking of them, their families and of those injured
‘May I acknowledge also all those first responders who have worked to support all involved.’