Weekend car crash claims life of second teenager

A SECOND teenager has died following a car accident in Co Clare over the weekend.

Darragh Killeen (19) died yesterday afternoon following a two-day fight for his life. He was a cousin of Oisin Cahill (18), who passed away on Sunday.

The young man was the driver of the vehicle that crashed into a wall in the early hours of Sunday morning near Ennis.

He was pronounced dead at University Hospital Limerick.

A second passenger, Enda Hickey (22), is still in a critical condition at the hospital.

The crash took place on Shanaway Road at Woodstock, about 2km outside of the town.

The three friends were travelling from the Ennis direction, when the Toyota Avensis crossed the road and crashed into a stone pillar at the entrance of a housing estate along the road.

Cousins Darragh and Oisin were from the townland of Clonfeigh, with Mr Hickey from the nearby townland, Kilmaley.

Both Darragh and Oisin were on the Kilmaley GAA under-21 panel for a final which they narrowly lost on Saturday.

The college Darragh attended, Salesian Agricultural College in Limerick, posted condolences online.

“This afternoon news we prayed we would not hear came through to the college of the sad passing of our 2nd year student Darragh Killeen,” they said.

They described Darragh as a key part of the college’s hurling and football teams.

“Darragh was one of few people able to master the big ball and small ball,” they added.

They also passed on their condolences to Oisin’s family and said their thoughts were with Enda.

Shock

Local councillor James Breen, who lives close to the families of the tragic victims, said the whole of Clare was in mourning following the accident.

“It’s very, very sad altogether,” Mr Breen said.

“They all live within about a mile of each other.

“The whole county is in shock as a result of this.”

A funeral Mass for Oisin will take place at St John’s Church in Kilmaley at 1pm tomorrow.

He will be reposing at Inch Church today from 4pm, with funeral prayers taking place at 8pm.

No details for the funeral of Darragh have been released as of yet.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact Ennis garda station or the Garda confidential line.