Special time was put aside in the Dáil for tributes to the victims of the Creeslough tragedy on Tuesday afternoon.
The Taoiseach and all the leaders of the political parties and Dáil groups spoke solemnly and with emotion about the terrible accident that claimed the lives of ten people last Friday.
Leas Cathaoirleach of the Dáil, Catherine Connolly, opened the tributes with some words in Irish, before Micheál Martin stood and read the names of the ten dead into the Dáil record.
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Mr Martin said: “Hugh Kelly, aged 59; Robert Garwe, 50; Martina Martin, 49, Martin McGill, 49; James O'Flaherty, 48; Catherine O'Donnell, 39; Jessica Gallagher, 24; Leona Harper, 14; James Monaghan, 13; and little Shauna Flanagan Garwe, 5 years old.
“Ten women, men, boys and girls representing everything good, kind and beautiful about Creeslough, Donegal and our country, taken away in a tragic incident on a quiet Friday afternoon.”
The Taoiseach added: “Fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters; each one an enormous, incalculable loss in the lives of those around them.
“This is a community bereft.
“A close-knit people in deep sadness and mourning, devastated by what has happened but it is also a community of great strength and resilience, pulling together to support each other through this terrible time.”
Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, said: “On Friday, our worlds stopped.
“Our hearts stopped as we learned of the terrible tragedy that was unfolding in Creeslough. “A tragedy which makes no sense and whose only lesson is pain and loss.
“Since then, we have seen the best of each other.
“A small country becoming one big community to search together, to grieve together and to heal together.
“This week the world is watching us and it is seeing a nation in tears.
“As the people from this place, we send our condolences to all those whose grief is still raw and painful and all too terrible to comprehend.
“A nation stands with you.
“A nation mourns with you.
“Seasaimid libhse.”
Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, was out sick for the day, so one of her deputies, Matt Carthy, from Monaghan, stood in.
He said: “When the Taoiseach and other political leaders stood together on Saturday night in Creeslough, with families and a community that had suffered a terrible loss, he was representing Irish people everywhere.
“There are no words that could properly express the heartbreak, pain and sorrow felt by so many.
“Ten precious lives are gone and a small community is devastated.
“The shock from this small village was felt across Ireland and beyond.
“Irish people everywhere are stunned.
“Many naturally feel that Creeslough could be their community, their place, their loved ones.”
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