Dungloe will come to a standstill today for the funeral of one its best-loved young citizens.
Teacher Dawn Croke, who was in her 30s, died when she was struck by a jeep in the grounds of St Crona’s National School in Dungloe on Thursday evening around 6.30pm.
The popular PE and resource teacher at Rosses Community School was killed instantly and the 6-year-old daughter of Ms Croke’s partner Patrick McHugh was injured by the runaway jeep.
Gardai are still investigating what exactly caused the Ford Ranger 4×4 belonging to Mr McHugh to move forward and cause the tragedy.
The town in West Donegal has been in mourning since the freak accident.
Ms Croke, who comes from a very well-known and respected family from Quay Road in the town, will be laid to rest following her funeral mass at 11am at St. Crona’s Church with burial afterwards in Maghery cemetery.
A huge crowd is expected at the funeral with guards of honour from both Rosses Community School and the Mary from Dungloe International Festival.
Dawn was the 2008 Dungloe entry for the Mary from Dungloe event, an honour she was very proud of according to friends and family.
Huge numbers of people have been attending her wake at her parents home since 10am on Saturday.
Rosses Community School, the school in which Ms Croke was so highly thought-of, will remain closed today as a mark of respect.
Dawn is survived by her father Tony, who is also a teacher at Rosses Community School and her mother Anne, brothers and sister as well as her own two little boys Jason and Calum.
A statement issued on behalf of Rosses Community school said “Our school wish to send our love and support to the family, school and local community at this sad time.
“We, the school community, remember with love and fondness our colleague Dawn. We pray for the family and friends at this sad time.”
Meanwhile, Gardai have reiterated their appeals for anybody who was in the area at the time of the accident to come forward with any information they may have.
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