Creeslough residents and all those affected by the Creeslough tragedy have been invited to have their say on how the remainder of the Irish Red Cross funds will be distributed.
A total sum of €1,906,349 was donated to the Irish Red Cross in the aftermath of the October 2022 tragedy.
Families and individuals impacted by the explosion received shares of €1,762,203, which was offered as emergency and planned lump-sum payments. Donations were provided to bereaved families, those who were injured and those who lost their homes or jobs.
The remaining amount, €144,146 (7.5% of the fund), has been earmarked for community use.
The Irish Red Cross has planned a community consultation event next week to hear proposals for using the remaining amount. The meeting will take place at the Creeslough Day Centre on Tuesday 16 July at 7.30pm.
“Irish Red Cross would like to hear the community’s view on plans for use of the remaining funds, which we will present at this meeting,” a spokesperson said.
Those who cannot attend in person are invited to email suggestions to: lodwyer@redcross.ie.
The Irish Red Cross fund was one of a number of fundraisers launched in the aftermath of the fatal explosion at the Creeslough service station. The Applegreen company donated €50,000 in the days after the incident.
A further €693,382.60 was raised via GoFundMe by local man Gerard McFadden who distributed the funds to the families of those who lost their lives and also those who were injured in the horrific incident.
This morning’s Mass at St Eunan’s Cathedral Letterkenny was held in memory of the 10 victims of the tragedy: five-year-old Shauna Flanagan Garwe and her dad Robert Garwe, 50, Catherine O’Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13, Leona Harper, 14, Jessica Gallagher, 24, James O’Flaherty, 48, Martin McGill, 49, Martina Martin, 49 and Hugh Kelly, 59.
