NEW YEAR's festivities came to a halt in north Tipperary on Wednesday night as news of the deaths of three local teenagers reached residents in Nenagh.
Stuart Donnellan (14), of Cormack Drive, Nenagh, Pádraig Bourke (16), of Garryard, Silvermines, and Adrian O'Brien (17), of Youghalarra, died when the car in which they were travelling crashed into a tree.
Two other teenagers, a boy and a girl, were seriously injured in the crash.
The crash happened between Nenagh and the village of Dolla at approximately 7.30pm on New Year's Eve. The Opel Corsa in which the teenagers were travelling from Nenagh to Silvermines is believed to have missed a sharp bend in the road, hitting a bank before crossing a ditch and crashing into a tree.
Two of the young men died at the scene, while a third was pronounced dead at Nenagh hospital.
The surviving boy and girl were taken to Limerick Mid-Western Hospital where they were in a serious condition last night. It is understood that the five had been driving around the area for a number of hours in the car, bought three weeks ago by one of them for less than €500.
The road did not have a reputation as an accident black spot, though the Christmas period had seen five crashes in the vicinity. Conditions on New Year's Eve were also not thought to be dangerous; there was no frost at the time of the crash and the road was described as only slightly greasy.
At the Eagle's Nest public house in Dolla, local people expressed their horror on hearing of the nearby crash. Maura Ryan said local people were shocked.
"There was music planned for the pub, but when we heard what had happened we cancelled it, most people went home," she said.
In Silvermines village at the foot of Slieve Felim last night the family of Pádraig Bourke, like those of Stuart Donnellan and Adrian O'Brien, awaited the return of their son's remains to be waked. Neighbours and friends congregated at the house to pay their respects and offer sympathy to his parents, Joan and Séamus.
The youngest of nine, Pádraig attended CBS Nenagh and was in fifth year. One neighbour said the family was traumatised.
"He was a lovely young lad, and they're a lovely family," she said. "That family could be any one of us."
Locals dropped into the Our Lady of Lourdes church at the apex of the village to light candles and say prayers for the victims.
"It's an awful tragedy. We are just shocked that something so tragic can happen. I mean, three young lives snuffed out in just an instant. The poor families, they must be heartbroken; my heart goes out to them," one local churchgoer said.
Silvermines publican Tom Hickey said all festivities had been cancelled as soon as news of the tragedy reached the village. "It gutted the village last night when we got the news."
He said the local boy was a nice, courteous lad who was popular in the area. "It is such a tragedy and it has affected families all over north Tipperary. It's so sad to think that three young lives can be cut short so quickly."
In the Cormack Drive estate in Nenagh, teenagers gathered in groups, mobile phones clutched in hands, comforting each other, as they attempted to deal with the sudden death of three of their friends.
Lord Mayor of Nenagh Cllr Virginia O'Dowd said five lovely families in the area were suffering at the beginning of the New Year.
"Three young lives have been lost and two people are critically ill. My thoughts and sympathies are with the families and the friends of those involved."
She said the young people of the area were devastated by the deaths and would need to be looked after in the coming days and weeks.
Sgt Pat Curran of Nenagh Garda station said inquiries were continuing into the cause of the crash. He appealed for witnesses who might have any information relating to the incident to come forward.