These are the three Donegal women tragically taken from their families and community following a horrific road crash.
The women were members of two families who were in a convoy of vehicles traveling from Dublin Airport which crashed in Co Louth.
Gardai are still investigating the cause of the crash which happened around 1am near Aclint.
Those killed were named as 69-year-old Margaret McGonigle from Castlereagh in Bruckless; her daughter, Mairead Munday, from Ballyloughan in Bruckless; and Racheal Battles, also from Ballyloughan in Bruckless.
The families had touched down at Dublin Airport before midnight and were driving back to their homes in Bruckless.
They had been holidaying in Turkey where they had been on a number of occasions for previous holidays and also to celebrate Mairead’s first wedding anniversary.
Mairead had taken her best friend Rachel, who is originally from Ardara, as well as mum Margaret on the holiday.
A number of other family members also went on the trip including Rachel’s husband Martin and Mairead’s husband Pauric Mundy.
The families live next to eachother a small five house estate in the Donegal village.
Racheal’s grandmother Ellen Cassidy, who lived with her grand-daughter had been in short-term respite care and was looking forward to returning to sharing her house with Rachel when she returned from Turkey.
Another family from Bruckless had been holidaying with the group but had returned a short time earlier via Manchester.
Members of this family heard about the tragedy and immediately drove to Dublin to support the tragic victims.
Among those injured is a six year old daughter of Racheal who was transferred from Our Lady’s Of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda to Crumlin’s Children Hospital where she is being treated for internal injuries.
Fr James Sweeney, Parish Priest of Bruckless said this was the saddest day of his 32 years as a priest.
“In all of my 32 years as a priest, this is undoubtedly the saddest day. One death in tragic circumstances is difficult to take but three deaths from the same small community is devastating.
“But the people of this community are resilient and they will pull together to support these families in the days ahead,” he said.
He added that it was especially tragic that the accident occurred as the families were returning from holiday.
“Life is for living and this is what these families were doing. It is just so tragic that it has ended in this way,” he added.
Donegal Person of the Year and well-known Ardara businessman, Stephen McCahill, said he was just devastated by the news.
“We have had more than our fair share of tragedy in Donegal and we always seems to have such a tragedy in the summer months and here we are again.
“It’s impossible to put into words how the community feels at the moment. The word began to filter through this morning and people still cannot believe it.
“I knew Rachel as a young woman in Ardara and she was lovely. She was a very kind person and was particularly good to her grandmother Ellen.
“It’s just devastating to think that so many people have been affected by this tragedy,” he said.
Local TD Thomas Pringle knew the women killed in the horrific crash as well as their families.
He said he would have known Rachel as she had spent a number of years living in his hometown of Killybegs.
“I know both families but would have known Rachel better. She was a lovely woman.
“I heard about 9am when word started to filter through and it’s just so hard to take in.
“They were all such good people, ordinary people just getting on with their lives and then this happens and destroys the lives of so many people in a heartbeat,” he said.
Superintendent Fergus Treanor from Ardee Garda Station said weather conditions were very bad when he arrived at the scene.
An ambulance which was coincidentally passing by helped in the emergency efforts, he added.
The N2 between Ardee and Aclint Bridge will remain closed for the day and major traffic diversions are in place.
Gardaí say motorists using the M1 should divert at junction 17 for Castleblayney and should avoid the area of the crash if possible.
Any witnesses are asked to contact Ardee Garda Station on 041-6871130, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111 or any garda station.
