There is no community as strong as that in Creeslough, a service to remember the 10 victims who died in an explosion in the village has heard.
Local priest Fr John Joe Duffy hailed a major rescue effort over the last two days as “unparalleled in measure” during the service at St Michael’s Church.
Among the 10 victims who have been named so far were talented teenage rugby player Leona Harper; Jessica Gallagher, who was understood to have been in her early 20s; shop worker Martina Martin; Catherine O’Donnell and her son James; and Hughie Kelly. Four others, including a girl of primary school age, were also killed.
All of the 10 victims were from the wider Creeslough area. A further eight people injured in the explosion remained in hospital on Saturday.
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Letterkenny Rugby Club said in a post on Facebook: “We are heartbroken to say our worst fears have been confirmed. Leona Harper tragically lost her life yesterday in Creeslough.
“Leona was a talented rugby player and an important part of our U14 girls team. To Leona’s parents, Hugh and Donna, her brothers Anthony and Jamie, and all of her team mates, we offer you our deepest condolences and support. There are no words that feel strong enough at a moment of deep sorrow such as this.”
Hundreds of people, including emergency workers who had taken part in the search, packed the Co Donegal church on Saturday evening.
Also in attendance was Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tanáiste Leo Varadkar and Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and Sinn Féin’s Stormont leader Michelle O’Neill were also in the congregation.
Parish priest Fr John Joe Duffy began the service by welcoming everyone to the church.
A red candle was then lit by the Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian for each of the 10 victims of the tragedy, which included two teenagers and a young child. The candlelit tribute will remain for a week.
Bishop McGuckian urged the people of Creeslough to unite in prayer for the “broken hearts that grieve and will miss them”.
The church was full with many standing at the back and outside for the service which began at 10 pm. It was held to support the community.
“We pray for the many people here in the chapel who are traumatised,” said Bishop McGuckian. “We pray for everyone who came upon the scene, the local community and the first responders.
“We pray in gratitude for them but also for God to be with them putting right things that will be shaken up by this experience. We think of everybody in all the families that have been caught up . We pray for the community here in Creeslough for growth from pain in hope and love.”
He asked the each member of the congregation, if there was anything he had not named, to name it for themselves. “Pray for that and we will all be united about that prayer.”
A before and after picture of the petrol station in Creeslough
Bishop McGuckian told the service: “The heart of this beautiful community of Creeslough, our community of Donegal and our national community, has been sorely bruised – broken, even – by the horror of this situation.”
The Bishop will celebrate Mass at St Michael’s Church on Sunday.
Fr Duffy thanked the emergency services who “gave so much of themselves in the tremendous efforts to save lives and recover the deceased”. He also thanked emergency workers from Northern Ireland who had joined in the search operation.
He said: “The greatest strength of any community is its people. The individuals and families that together form a community.
“The closer we are as a people the stronger the sense of community, and nowhere is that sense stronger, in no place is there as strong a community as we have here in Creeslough. Especially at this time.”
“Our hearts are indeed broken, we all sense a numbness, a disbelief that we are really experiencing this tragedy, that it is real.
“The grief we see in the young and in the old shows that this is a family that cares for each other, a genuine community.
“We suffer the loss, we all sense the pain.
“The days ahead will be difficult days. I wish there was some easier way, but unfortunately there is not.
“However, the strength of our community will carry us.”
He said the parish “owed so much” to those who had taken part in the emergency search operation.
“The effort we saw in our community was unparalleled in measure and we are so very grateful.
“Let us now be there for each other, let us journey together in these sad times.”
Several politicians took time to meet local residents outside the church following the service. – Additional reporting PA
