‘Wave of sadness’ in Ballina over child’s death

TRAGEDY The late Alice Dunleavy.


Edwin McGreal

A pall of grief hangs over Ballina this week following the death of Alice Kitty Dunleavy in nearby Enniscrone on Friday.
Alice, aged four, died after being hit by a car in a caravan park in Enniscrone.
Alice’s funeral took place in St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina yesterday (Monday) afternoon with internment taking place afterwards in the Leigue Cemetery.
Cllr Mark Duffy, Cathaoirleach of Ballina Municipal District, said it was hard to put into words the devastation felt locally.
“As Cathaoirleach of Ballina Municipal District and on behalf of the Municipal District and the people of the town and the area, all I can say is there is a whole wave of sadness over the town and region,” Cllr Duffy told The Mayo News.
“No words can comfort the family. The whole community is numb. It is such a tragedy.
“The solidarity of everyone in the community is with the family. That’s not much comfort to the family but there is a huge sense of loss in the town. The whole community’s hearts go out to the Dunleavy and Courell families. It is a tragedy that is hard to put into words. My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved and to Alice’s family in particular,” he added.
Alice was on holidays with her family at the caravan park when tragedy struck. She was seriously injured in the incident and emergency services were called to the scene on Friday afternoon, after a car is believed to have reversed into the young girl. The man driving the car is believed to be from Northern Ireland and had been visiting the caravan park for over six decades.
Alice was rushed to University Hospital Sligo afterwards but was later pronounced dead.
Alice is from a well-known local family. Her father John works with the family business Dunleavy Meats while her mother Ann Marie is a highly regarded barrister.
Alice is survived by her parents John and Ann Marie, sisters Rose and April, grandparents Michael and Claire Courell and Michael and Eithne Dunleavy, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends.