Fatal car crash shakes Bonniconlon

Fatal car crash shakes Bonniconlon


Anna-Marie Flynn

THE north Mayo town of Bonniconlon has been shaken by grief at the tragic death of a 19-year-old local following a road accident at the weekend.
Donal Neary was fatally injured in the early hours of Sunday morning last, just yards from his home at Carracrum, Bonniconlon, when the car he was driving collided with a tree. Mr Neary was the sole occupant of the car. The accident happened shortly after 1am and it is believed the deceased, an apprentice electrician working in Sligo, was driving to Ballina to pick up a friend.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was removed to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar.
The road at Carracrum was closed for the duration of Sunday to facilitate the work of the Garda Forensic Collision Investigation team.
A well-known member of the community, Donal Neary was the second eldest child of Joseph (Josie) and Kathleen Neary. The Neary family are well-known for their involvement in music and sport throughout the region.
Word of the tragedy broke after 1.30am in Ballina with friends of the deceased paying tribute to him via Bebo and other social networking websites throughout the weekend. One friend wrote: “He was just too young to die. It just goes to show you, you’re here one minute and gone the next. We will never forget you Donal.”
Residents of Carracrum and the wider Bonniconlon area have been supporting the Neary family over the weekend and again last night (Monday) at the reposal of remains in the family home.
Removal is this evening (Tuesday), from his residence, to the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bonniconlon arriving at 8pm. Requiem Mass is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) at 12 noon with burial in Bonniconlon Cemetery.
Donal Neary is survived by his parents Joseph and Kathleen, brother Enda, sisters Ruth and Róisín, uncles, aunts and a large circle of relatives and friends.