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A VIGIL IN Co Monaghan has called on the local community to be a “pillar of strength” after five young adults died in a collision in Co Louth over the weekend.
Three separate vigils were arranged this evening, with one 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.
They were travelling together in a Volkswagen Golf while on their way to Dundalk for a night out when they died in the crash on Saturday.
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 released from hospital.
Two other people were also injured in what gardaí described as a “shocking and devastating” crash.
The incident, which involved the Golf and a Toyota Land Cruiser, happened on a road near Dundalk just after 9pm.
Post-mortem examinations of the deceased have now been completed and their remains have been released to their families.
The two occupants of the Toyota Landcruiser, a man and a woman in their 20s, remain in hospital where they continue to receive medical treatment for non-life threatening injuries.
At the vigil in Aughnamullen, Co Monaghan, Chloe McGee’s cousin delivered a beautiful rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’.
Hundreds gathered on a cold evening to remember the Aughnamullen ladies footballer.
The vigil heard that Chloe was a “stellar” defender in the Aughnamullen ladies football team and at the heart of the team.
The vigil was told of one incident where Chloe managed to get a score despite being a defender and jokingly told the management that they could call her Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper from now on.
“That sums her up and her outlook on life – she got stuck in to get the hard work done but could have the craic and a laugh at the same time,” said Annie Hanaway of Aughnamullen GAA.
“She was a beautiful girl, inside and out, and anytime you met her you were greeted with the friendliest smile and the biggest ‘hello’.”
PJ Markey, Chair of Augnamullen GAA, remarked that the crowd had gathered with “heavy hearts and united in sorrow to honour a life that has been tragically cut short”.
He said the incident has sent “ripples of pain throughout every corner of our community”.
“It is in moments like this that the true meaning of community, of being part of something bigger than ourselves, is laid bare.
“Our GAA club has always been more than just a place to play games – it’s a family, a place of shared triumphs and now of shared grief.”
He extended his sympathies to Chloe’s friends who died in the collision and said Aughnamullen GAA club “will stand with them not just today, but tomorrow and in all the days to come.”
“We are a community and we always stick together. Let us now be that pillar of strength for each other, let us lean on one another, offer a hand, a listening ear, a comforting word.
“Our community spirit is the very foundation of Aughnamullen GAA club and it will help us through this tragedy. We will find strength in our unity.”
Meanwhile, local priest Owen Gordan asked those gathered to pray for those who survived the collision, as well as the deceased.
He prayed for them to find healing “both in body and in soul” and asked that their “memories of what happened neither cause them pain nor torment”.
“Enable them to rebuild their lives with their loved ones,” he added.
Fr Gordon also prayed for all the emergency services involved and asked that “be comforted when work brings tragedy their way”.
Elsewhere, at Drumconrath Gaelic Football Club, hundreds gathered with candles and mobile flashlights.
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 Alan 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 of the parish of Haggardstown and Blackrock, was in attendance and led the candlelight service.
Those present prayed for those who died that had “so much to live for” as well as those still recovering in hospital.
Rev Clarke said the community had gathered in “shock, grief and confused hearts”.
He said the vigil meant “a lot to everyone here”, and showed solidarity to the affected families.
“As a club, as a community, as a parish, we all are one together.”
In prayer, he added: “We ask you to keep everyone safe and in your love as we approach Christmas, a special time for young children, and when we will have families who have people missing from the table this year, we ask you to give them
Meanwhile, gardai continue to investigate all the circumstances behind the crash and issued a renewed witness appeal.
-With additional reporting from Press Association
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