Memorial service for four women who died in Athy collision

A memorial service has taken place for the four women killed in Tuesday night’s car crash in Co Kildare.

The private service was held at Carlow Cathedral for the pupils and teachers of St Leo's School in the town where all four were past pupils. They were part of the Leaving Certificate class of 2013.

Ashling Middleton (19) from Athy and Niamh Doyle (19), Charmaine Carroll (20) and Gemma Nolan (19), all from Carlow, died when the Volkswagen Polo they were travelling in was in collision with a transit van coming in the opposite direction on the N78 outside Athy.

A fifth woman, Danya Kearney (20), who was the driver of the Polo, is in a stable condition in Tallaght Hospital. The Polish driver of the van and his passenger were both treated in hospital after the collision.

St Leo's principal Clare Ryan described the four women as "beautiful girls who were full of craic, humour and goodness and everything that is good about young people. We were the richer for having them."

Ms Ryan read a piece which Ashling Middleton, who was a second-year student at Maynooth University studying English and Anthropology, had written for the school year book in her Leaving Certificate year.

It was entitled Dreams. “What is a dream? Could it be described as a wish, a goal or an escape. It is quite impossible to define such an important part of ourselves. A dream is like a garment. We sow it together carefully with thought hoping for the best. Each day, as we prepare to leave St Leo’s College for the last time, we move closer to those elusive creatures that we have all encountered, yet we still find it difficult to explain where they originate from and why they impact on us so much.

“Secondary school is a daunting task of patience and perseverance. For some it has brought happiness and others sadness, but together we have, like our dreams, grown and changed together.

“We are not our past, we are not our future. We are the present. With our dreams we have the ability to transform the world from the mundane to the beautiful, from the grey to the gold. If some day we lose these goals for a while, we shouldn’t worry. Like the friends, which we have made in the last six years, our dreams will always await our return and welcome us back with open arms and a wise smile willing to chase away the darkness of failure in return for a little time and care.”

Ms Ryan quoted the Bob Dylan song Forever Young: “May God bless and keep you always, may your wishes all come true, may you always do for others and let others do for you. May you stay forever young.”

Four books of condolences were opened at the entrance to the cathedral and four Paschal candles were lit on the altar.

Prayers were also said for Dayna Kearney (20).

Cathedral administrator Fr John Cummins said a “cloud hangs over Carlow this week, heavy, grave and heartbreaking. For the communities of St Leo’s, the tragedy of Tuesday has numbed and shocked us. We find ourselves in this unwanted place of grief and sorrow. So many people have been affected by their deaths.”

Charmaine’s sister Leanne, Niamh’s niece Rachel and Gemma’s cousins who are still part of the school were remembered at the service.

The funerals take place on Friday and Saturday.