A Co Mayo community has been left reeling with “shock, numbness and disbelief” after two teenagers were killed when the car in which they were travelling collided with a tractor on Friday evening.
James Daniels (13) and Harry Fagan (19) were fatally injured in the incident at Lavallyroe, Cloonfad, as they drove to watch the Cloonfad United FC senior team play Skyvalley Rovers. The game was abandoned when news of the tragedy emerged.
A third teenager who was travelling in the car was seriously injured and taken to Mayo University Hospital. The driver of the tractor, a man in his 50s, was taken to hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Harry and James were members of Cloonfad United FC, which is located on the Mayo-Roscommon border.
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In a statement, the club says what unfolded as they gathered for the game on Friday “has left the Cloonfad community in complete shock, numbness and disbelief”.
“James Daniels was a member of our under-14 squad that recently won the RDYSL Division One championship and he scored a number of goals during their campaign,” it added. “James loved being with his team-mates and friends and had a lovely friendly personality to match.
“Harry Fagan played for Cloonfad all the way through our underage program. Playing mostly in the midfield, he always gave his best.
“Of course people involved in the game locally would be well aware of the Fagan name. They have given so much to our club in various different platforms and are so generous with their time to all local volunteer groups.
“Our hearts are broken for both families and we send our prayers and support to the families involved,” the statement continued.
“Our game was only a few minutes old when it was abandoned and we thank referee Aiyo Bolarinwa for his quick judgment. Deepest gratitude also to our friends at Skyvalley Rovers Football Club for their sincerity shown afterwards.”
Paying tribute to the two teenagers, club officer Dermot Burke said: “everybody within the community is dumbfounded by the tragic loss.”
Alma Gallagher, a member of Mayo County Council, described the deaths of the two young men and the injuries sustained by the survivors as “devastating”.
She described James and Harry as “well known and much loved in their communities with bright futures ahead of them”.
James’s remains will be brought from St Patrick’s Church, Cloonfad, to Shannon for cremation following Requiem Mass at 12pm on Tuesday. The removal will be held at PJ Keane Funeral Home on Monday.
Harry’s funeral will take place at 12pm on Wednesday at St Patrick’s Church, Cloonfad, with burial afterwards in Cloonfad Cemetery.
After gardaí completed a forensic investigation, the vehicles were removed from the crash scene on Saturday afternoon.
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