Ballyhaunis GAA pay tribute to 'much loved' member following tragic death
Tributes have been paid to 12-year-old Eoin Doyle who died tragically following collision between a car and train in east Mayo
Ballyhaunis GAA Club has paid tribute to a 'much loved' member of the club who tragically died yesterday evening following the collision with a car and a train in east Mayo.
Eoin Doyle from Gurrane, Ballyhaunis has been named as the 12-year-old boy who died when the 18:45hrs Dublin to Westport service train struck a car in which he was a passenger at a level crossing at Kiltybo near Ballyhaunis.
Eoin, a pupil in Cloonfad National School, had been at underage GAA training with his club Ballyhaunis earlier that evening and his family are deeply involved with the club.
As a mark of respect, all club activities including Ballyhaunis's senior championship game against The Neale which was due to take place on Sunday have been cancelled.
In a statement, Ballyhaunis GAA in east Mayo expressed sadness at the tragic death of Eoin and expressed sympathy to his parents Declan and Elaine and to Eoin's twin sister Saoirse.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our young club member, Eoin Doyle.
“Eoin was a much loved member of our underage teams, a talented young footballer and, above all, a wonderful young boy who was a great friend and teammate to so many within our club.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Eoin’s parents, Declan and Elaine, his twin sister Saoirse, his step-brother Conor, his grandparents Pat and Marguerite Doyle and Ger and Mary Corcoran, his uncles, aunts, cousins, relatives and friends, and all those who knew and loved him.
“We are also thinking especially of Eoin’s teammates, coaches and friends within the club at this incredibly difficult time.
“Eoin will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by everyone at Ballyhaunis GAA.”
The funeral arrangements for Eoin have also been announced with the repose to take place at Donnellan's Funeral Home, Clare St, Ballyhaunis on Monday evening from 5pm to 7pm.
Funeral will arrive at St Patrick's Church, Cloonfad on Tuesday for Funeral Mass at 12 noon, followed by burial in Ballyhaunis Cemetery.
The collision between the car and the train occurred shortly before 9pm on Thursday evening at the XM160 level crossing in the townland of Kiltybo close to the Roscommon county boundary.
Eoin was pronounced dead at the scene and an adult male who was also in the car at the time was brought to hospital with injuries which are understood not to be life-threatening.
It is understood that the boy had been training earlier that evening and had just dropped a friend to his home and was returning home when the car was struck by the train at the unmanned level crossing.
The line remained closed to allow for an investigation by An Garda Siochána but was reopened at 4.10pm but knock-on delays are still expected on services on both the Westport and Galway lines while work is carried out to restore regular operations.
Mary Considine, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann has issued the following statement on the tragic incident that took place in Ballyhaunis yesterday evening.
“On behalf of Iarnród Éireann I wish to express our sincerest sympathies to the family of the young boy who tragically lost his life in Ballyhaunis last night. Incidents like these are extremely difficult for all involved.
“I would also like to convey my sincere appreciation to all those who responded with such professionalism and care at the scene, both the emergency services, An Garda Síochána and our own staff.
“A full investigation into the incident is underway and further details will become clear as the investigation continues. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our customers at this time.
“Our thoughts remain with the family, friends and wider community in Ballyhaunis and with everyone affected by this tragic incident.”
Local TD Paul Lawless also expressed sympathy to the family and friends of the young boy and all involved in the collision.
“The community is in grief at this awful news. It is a terrible shock and a heartbreaking loss,” he said.
“We have yet to hear the details, but it would seem to be a freak accident. I can't recall such a fatal crash on a rail line ever happening here before. It is very rare in Ireland. It is heartbreaking to think this lad was at the start of his young life, coming home from training and with everything ahead of him. I believe he had only recently had the joy of seeing the Sam Maguire when Mayo captain Jack Coyne brought it to Ballyhaunis GAA club”.
The Knock-based Deputy said that his thoughts and prayers are with the family of the young boy who died last night near Ballyhaunis and called for a review of safeguards at rural level crossings.
“To think his life was snatched away in such a tragic way is horrifying. We are all thinking of his family and his father who is in hospital after the accident.
“I am familiar with this particular crossing. In general, these are very rural and are not automated and can be little more than traffic lights with gates that users open and shut. Sometimes at these intersections, the gates are left open and so, without the barrier, it is not immediately clear if it is a train crossing, to a motorist who may not be familiar with it.
“In the aftermath of this particular incident, we will have to ensure that there are adequate safety measures and warning systems in place at such rural level crossings. There will have to be a full review of such safeguards and an investigation to establish what happened,” concluded Deputy Lawless.