The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Tralee in mourning after fatal crash claims young life
Tragic accident takes life of 23-year-old man.
A SHROUD of sadness has covered Tralee this week following the tragic death of a young local man in a car accident in the early hours of last Saturday morning.
23-year-old Luke Gleasure, from the Kerries West, Tralee, was fatally injured when the car he was travelling in went out of control and crashed on the main Tralee to Fenit road at around 3.20am on Saturday.
The single vehicle accident took place not far from Tralee between Mounthawk and Clogherbrien.
Mr Gleasure was pronounced dead at the scene a short time after emergency services arrived.
A second man – aged in his early twenties – who was also in the car, was severely injured in the crash. He remains in hospital where his condition is described as serious.
Mr Gleasure was laid to rest at Réalt na Mara Cemetery in Churchill on Tuesday afternoon following Requiem Mass at the Church of the Purification in Churchill.
News of his death has caused tremendous shock and sadness in the greater Tralee area.
A large crowd attended Tuesday’s funeral Mass in Churchill and on Monday evening thousands of people queued for hours outside Gleasure’s Funeral Home in Tralee in order to sympathise with his heartbroken family.
Many tributes have been paid to the popular young man, including one from hi former school, Gaelcholáiste Chiarrai.
“Lúcas was a pupil in Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí from 2008 to 2013 and for those o us who knew him we remem ber him as a bright, affable and charming young man, said the school.
“He was a great character with great wit and with a very positive outlook on life. He was very well liked by all the school community, student and staff alike and will be fondly remembered by us all, the school said in a statement
Mr Gleasure is survived by his parents F.J. and Shei la, brothers Adam and Ross extended family and many friends.