‘Numbness’ in communities as five more die on our roads
TRIBUTES have been paid to young GAA star Ian Conlon, one of five people to die on Irish roads in the final few days of Road Safety Week.
A keen rugby player and Gaelic footballer. Mr Conlon, 25, died when his car overturned at Scrine Hill, near Athleague, Co. Roscommon, at around 2.50am on Sunday. He was described as a ‘likeable and friendly young man’ in a statement by his club Oran GAA.
It read: ‘The club was deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of former player Ian Conlon. He was particularly generous with his time to younger kids, showing them different farming skills and methods.’
Local councillor Emer Kelly said: ‘The entire community is in shock at the news and everyone is thinking of the family at this difficult time.’
It was one of several deaths on our roads over the weekend. It has been a black year on Irish roads, with 144 deaths to date, 30 more than in the same period in 2022.
Father-of-two Wayne Lynch, in his 40s, died in the early hours of Sunday as he was walking home from watching Ireland defeat Scotland at the Rugby World Cup on TV. He was struck by a vehicle at junction 16 southbound on the M1 motorway in Dundalk, Co. Louth, at around 2.45am.
Local Fine Gael councillor Paula Butterly described a ‘numbness’ in the community. She said: ‘It’s been a huge shock. I would extend my condolences to the entire family, his parents, his wife, his small children, and to the community at large.’
In another tragic event, a motorcyclist in his 40s was killed in Co. Donegal after being involved in a single-vehicle incident on the R262 near Glenties on Sunday afternoon. Arnie Whyte, a fatherof-two from Raphoe, received medical treatment at the scene of the crash but was pronounced dead shortly after.
Also, a teenage boy lost his life after he was hit by a car while walking on the R555 at Duagh village, near Listowel, Co. Kerry, at around 10pm on Saturday.
He was seriously injured in the crash and taken to Kerry University Hospital where he later died.
The female driver, in her early 20s, and her three teenage passengers were all uninjured.
The weekend’s crashes follow the death of island life campaigner and ‘true gentleman’ Christy Henry, who lost his life in a crash on Inishbiggle Island, Achill, Co. Mayo, on Friday evening.
His car veered off the road and into a lake at around 8.30pm. Mr Henry, in his 60s, was recovered from the vehicle and pronounced dead a short time later.
Mr Henry was one of just 12 residents of Inishbiggle – a small island off the Mayo coast only accessible by ferry.
The Church of Ireland Bishop of the Diocese of Tuam, Michael Burrows, said: ‘I am deeply conscious of Christy Henry’s devotion to the island, his ecumenical generosity in relation to its distinctive history, his helpfulness to all, his prominence in campaigning for the good of the island.
‘May light perpetual shine on him as you strive to come to terms with the shock of losing him.’