A LORRY taking building supplies to a new home for Daniel O’Donnell and his wife Majella on a Donegal island sank today after falling from a pier.
The vehicle – from The Cope in Dungloe – was being taken off a ferry on Owey Island when it slipped backwards, sending the lorry crashing into the water with all the building supplies still on board.
“It was an incredible scene,” said one man who witnessed it, “it was hard to work out what happened other than the Arranmore Island Fast Ferry was propelled backwards towards the water.
“Then the lorry went that way to and ended up in the water.
“Thankfully no-one was hurt and efforts will be made on Tuesday to try to recover the lorry and its load.”
The local added: “Daniel’s mother Julia is from the island and Majella fell in love with it on a visit.
“She has been working on a renovation and builders had ordered new supplies from the The Cope in Dungloe.
“Unfortunately all that stuff fell into the Atlantic.”
Two summers ago Julia O’Donnell and brother Owenie and other family members made the short 1.5 km boat journey from Kincasslagh pier to Owey Island.
“It’s great to be back home once more,” she announced over the phone to her son, who was on tour in Australia, as she sat by an open fire in the three-roomed cottage where she grew up.
In recent years Owey has been enjoying a resurgence of life with many of its cottages being restored as holiday homes.
“This is very nice but sad for me, but it’s nice to be back in the old home. I have so many memories of this house and the island including painting this very kitchen ceiling while standing on top of a chair and two tables. This big open fire reminds me so much of when I was living here. It’s great to see the old home being fixed up again,” said Julia at the time.
