A book of condolences has been opened in Newtowncunningham for people to pay their respects to Private Sean Rooney.
The book is available to sign at the Tourist Information Kiosk at Kernan’s today, Wednesday 9am to 5pm and Thursday 9am to 5pm.
Local Councillor Paul Canning has expressed sympathies on behalf of the village to the family of the young peacekeeping soldier who was killed on active service in Lebanon last week.
Private Seán Rooney will be laid to rest in Newtowncunningham tomorrow, Thursday, with full military honours.
His remains will be removed to Holy Family Church in Dundalk at 8.30am on Thursday before his funeral at 9am.
His family and Defence Forces colleagues will then accompany him on his final journey to All Saints Catholic Church in Colehill, Donegal, where he will be buried at 3.30pm.
Pte Rooney’s mother Natasha McCloskey, who lives in Newtowncunningham, has described Seán as a gentle giant with a pure heart of gold.
“My absolute pride and joy, it was an honour to be your mother,” she said.
Natasha along with her partner Paul, Sean’s fiancée Holly McConnellogue, his grandfather and his three uncles who have served in the Defence Forces were reunited with their beloved boy amidst emotional scenes on Monday morning as his remains landed at Casement Aerodrome.
Books of Condolence are also open in Lifford (County House), Letterkenny Public Services Centre and Carndonagh Public Services Centre.
Private Rooney’s colleague, Trooper Shane Kearney, is to be medically evacuated from Beirut Airport to Casement Aerodrome today.
