Cresslough: ShelfLife reflects

A community in mourning

Left to right: Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her father Robert Garwe, Leona Harper, Hugh Kelly, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, James O’Flaherty, Martina Martin, Catherine O’Donnell and son James Monaghan

“Words on their own cannot comfort the fathomless grief that so many will feel in the weeks and months ahead but what we can do and what I know we will do is to be there for them,” said Taoiseach Micheál Martin of the tragic explosion which occurred at Aplegreen/ Nearby Creeslough in Co. Donegal on Friday, 7 October 2022.

“It is important that those struggling to make sense of the enormous and heartbreaking loss now confronting them, know that the entire nation is with them in spirit,” An Taoiseach added.

Message from Applegreen

Commenting the day after the horrific incident, Joe Barrett, founder and chief executive of Applegreen, described it as “a very dark day for Creeslough, for Donegal, for Ireland, and for all of us in the wider Applegreen family. This is a hugely tragic event, and I would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased, and to the entire community in Creeslough. We are utterly shocked and saddened at what happened yesterday. I would also like to offer our thanks to the emergency services, and first responders, who are dealing with the incident.

“We have been working with our local partners in Creeslough since 2014. We are providing them with assistance and support locally at this very difficult time. The Applegreen in Creeslough is at the very heart of the village and contains the local post office and supermarket.”

“Our thoughts and our prayers are with the people of Creeslough,” Barrett added. “Today we mourn those who have lost their lives alongside the entire country. We will continue to assist and support our partners, and the wider Creeslough community, in the days and weeks ahead.”

Message from Nearby

Michael Skelton, MD of S&W Wholesale also offered his sympathies: “To the community of Creeslough, Co. Donegal, we are deeply saddened and shocked by the devastating news,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers turn to the families and friends of those injured and those who have sadly lost their lives. I would like to offer our thanks to the emergency services and first responders for their rapidness and tireless work. This store is very much at the heart of Creeslough and this tragic incident will be felt in everyone’s today and beyond.

“We have no doubt that this close-knit community of Creeslough and surrounding areas will come together in this time of hardship,” Skelton continued. “We want you to know that the entire S&W Wholesale and Nearby teams will stand shoulder to shoulder with you.”

Ten people lost their lives in the blast, with several more injured in hospital. The victims include five-year-old Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her dad Robert Garwe, 50, as well as Catherine O’Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13. Leona Harper, 14, Jessica Gallagher, 24, James O’Flaherty, 48, Martin McGill, 49, Martina Martin, 49 and Hugh Kelly, 59, also lost their lives in the explosion.

An Garda Síochána is continuing its investigation into the cause of the blast. Garda Supt Liam Geraghty said the victims were “all local people” who were “very much involved in the local community”.

Community rallies together

Just last month, ShelfLife profiled the Creeslough store and owner Annette Lafferty, who runs the store alongside her brother Danny, emphasized the stop’s “very loyal customer base”; a connection further strengthened during Covid when they mutually relied on each other.

After the village lost its only shop in the explosion, people from across Donegal have been donating items to St Michael’s Church in Creeslough. The supplies, which include essentials such as milk, tea and bread, have been helping to keep the village of Cresslough going.

Meanwhile, Asda staff members also delivered supplies of everyday items such as condiments, toiletries and cereals to the village, where they are being distributed by the Creeslough Community Day Centre. People can visit the centre from 9am-4pm to collect items.

Gerard McFadden, who lives in Brisbane, Australia but is originally from Creeslough, set up a GoFundMe to help the community. In response to the catastrophe, the Creeslough Community Support Fund has also been established by the Irish Red Cross in collaboration with An Post and Applegreen to “provide rapid and long-term assistance to the Creeslough community”.

Books of condolence have opened across the island of Ireland for the victims of the Creeslough tragedy.

ShelfLife’s thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by this tragic event.

To donate to the Irish Red Cross’ Creeslough Community Support Fund, visit https:// www.redcross.ie/latest-appeals/creeslough/. ■

Pictured are crowds of mourners as the coffins of explosion victims Catherine O’Donnell and her son James Monaghan leave St. Michael’s Church, Creeslough, after their funeral