A six-year-old Nenagh girl has died after receiving an accidental blow from a golf club last Sunday morning.
Paige Corcoran, daughter of PJ and Pearl Corcoran, Springfort Meadows, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was playing with her five-year-old cousin when she accidentally received a blow to the throat from a small golf club.
The girl collapsed while playing on a green area in the Carrig Rua estate, close to a family member's home.
Emergency services from Nenagh Hospital attended the scene and the girl was later taken to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.
She remained on a life-support machine overnight as medical staff fought to save her life.
Family members kept a vigil beside the girl's bed until a decision was taken to switch off the life-support machine on Monday evening.
A resident of the area said that the accident was "unthinkable".
"You just couldn't imagine something like this could happen. It's heartbreaking for the family. They are totally in shock and devastated.
"Everyone couldn't believe it happened. Our hearts go out to the family. We are numb after what has happened," the resident said.
Nenagh's parish priest, Fr Tom Seymour, said that the entire community had been "devastated" by the tragedy.
"Both families are well known in the community and what happened doesn't bear thinking about or contemplating," Fr Seymour said. "Everyone is thinking of them at this terrible time."
Paige's schoolmates in the Convent of Mercy primary school held a candle-lit vigil throughout Monday before the tragic news was broken to the children yesterday morning.