Devastation after 23 year old killed in road crash

‘GRIEF AND GREAT SADNESS’?South Mayo is in mourning after the tragic death of Niamh Campbell.

Devastation after tragic accident


Niamh Campbell (23) dies at accident black-spot

Sister returns from Australia for funeral on Wednesday


Michael Commins

THE tightly-knit South Mayo community of Taugheen is in deep shock following the death of 23-year-old Niamh Campbell in a fatal road accident on Sunday morning. The accident happened at Lurga on the N17, a few hundred yards the Charlestown side of the entrance to Knock Airport.
Niamh was on her way to attend to a hairstyle appointment at 8am for a member of a bridal party when the accident took place at what has been a black-spot over the years. The car collided with a pillar and lamppost.
Niamh was pronounced dead at the scene and was removed to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar where a post mortem was carried out.
Daughter of Padraig and Maura Campbell, Shessiagh, Taugheen, she was one of a family of three. Her older sister Aoife has been in Sydney, Australia for the past few months and her youngest sister Caoimhe did her Leaving Cert in Mount St Michael, Claremorris in June.
Her dad, Padraig, was on his way to Croke Park for the All-Ireland quarter finals when the terrible news was broken to him. He was travelling with his neighbour Ger McHugh and his wife Bridie and son Darren at the time.
“We picked Padraig up just after 8am and headed off for Dublin. It was the usual chat and banter on the way up, all looking forward to the big games. We were near Enfield around 10.10am when Padraig took a call in the back of the car. I knew right away there was something up. He said to pull in and stop. We were only about a mile from the Apple Green Service station so I drove to that exit to get off the motorway.
“We still were not aware of what the news was when Padraig got out of the car and continued speaking to Maura on the phone. When he came back to us a minute or two later, he was shaking. He told us the news. We couldn’t believe it. What can you say? Life was changed forever for them in those few seconds.”

Well-known family
The Campbell family have been at the heart and soul of the Carramore GAA club down through the years. Padraig has been a delegate for the club to the South Board and Mayo County Board for 25 years. Several members of the next generation are now involved with the Hollymount-Carramore underage teams.
About 20 members of the family circle were on route to Croke Park for the matches at the time. Padraig’s brother Brendan was near Athlone and arrangements were made for him to meet Padraig in Kinnegad as Ger McHugh drove him back from Enfield. Phones calls were relayed to other family members along the way. Some had already arrived in Dublin for the games.
The news spread like wildfire and nearly all the people from the region making the journey to Croke Park got calls and texts alerting them of the sad news emanating from back home in Mayo.
“The entire area is devastated with this terrible tragedy,” says Ger McHugh. “Both the Campbell and Morris families are so well known throughout the region. No words can try to explain what they are going through now. Niamh’s two grannies, Bridie Campbell and Mary Morris, were told the news yesterday. One can only imagine the long trip home from Australia for Aoife.
“On Saturday night, Niamh put her hair-styling talents to use when she spruced up her parents Maura and Padraig to have them ready for their niece’s engagement party in Cheers lounge in Hollymount which was planned for Sunday night after family members came home from Croke Park.
“By a remarkable coincidence, her uncle TJ Morris had passed the crash scene on his way to Donegal on Sunday morning but had no idea with was his niece that was involved in the accident.
“Niamh was a highly accomplished dancer and won numerous Scór na nÓg honours with the club’s set dancing group of eight who were coached by Chrissie Oates. She was a lovely young girl. Everyone is so shocked with this news. The hearts of the entire community go out to the Campbell and Morris families at this time of grief and great sadness.”
Reposing takes place at Gilligan’s Funeral Home this evening (Tuesday) from 6pm to 8pm with removal to St Michael’s Church, Taugheen. Requiem Mass will be at 10.30am on Wednesday, followed by removal for private cremation.
Hollymount Carramore GAA club, South Mayo G.AA Board and Mayo GAA Board has extended deepest sympathy to Padraig and Maura Campbell and daughters Aoife and Caoimhe on the tragic death of Niamh Campbell and also to the extended Campbell and Morris families.