Cloonfad man dies in accident on Mayo-Roscommon border

Michael Commins

SADNESS enveloped the Cloonfad region on Thursday morning when news broke of the tragic death of Robert Hunt from Coolisker, Cloonfad, in an accident just a couple of hundred yards from the family home.
Robert, who was in his mid-30s, died from injuries sustained when the car he was driving left the main Claremorris to Cloonfad road and entered the Dalgan River at the Mayo-Roscommon border. He was driving from the Claremorris direction heading back towards his home at the time.
A passing motorist spotted the car in the river at 8.40am. The body of Mr Hunt was discovered by members of the Ballyhaunis fire service who attended the scene shortly afterwards. The body was removed from the car and brought to Mayo University Hospital, where a postmortem was carried out.
The Hunt family resides on the Roscommon side of the border heading towards Cloonfad. Neighbours rallied around Robert’s parents, Breda (nee Mongan) and John, and the family as they tried to come to terms with the tragedy. A constant stream of callers visited the family home since Thursday to extend condolences at this sad time.
Reposing was in Donnellan’s Funeral Home, Ballyhaunis, on Sunday evening, with removal to Cloonfad Church. After Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr Joe Feeney, PP, yesterday (Monday), interment took place in Tulrahan Cemetery. Robert is survived by his parents, brother, sisters, relatives, neighbours and friends.