A teenage girl who lost her life in a road incident in south Connemara was the third person to be killed on the same stretch of road in the past two years.
Leah Ní Fhéinne (15) from Clynagh, Carraroe, Co Galway, died from injuries sustained when she was struck by a car close to Rossaveal harbour, Co Galway, on Wednesday night.
Her death has prompted calls from residents for provision of a footpath and public lighting on the roadway. The incident occurred at about 9.45pm near the Tí Terry pub at Rossaveal.
The girl was an only child of Liam Feeney and his partner Noirín, and was a Junior Certificate student at Coláiste Cholmcille in Indreabhán. Gardaí say she was out walking with a friend when the incident occurred.
She was taken by ambulance to University Hospital, Galway, where she died of her injuries. The male pedestrian who was with her and the male driver of the car which struck her were not injured.
Gardaí closed the stretch of road to conduct a forensic examination.
Counselling was offered to her school friends and Mass was said yesterday in her memory. Residents say they have been calling for over a decade for installation of public lighting and a footpath in the area.
Glór na Tuaithe chairman Pádraig Ó Conghaíle said many people believed that the girl would still be alive if the necessary works to ensure pedestrian safety had been carried out on “one of the busiest roads in Connemara”.
Gardaí in Salthill have appealed for witnesses to the incident to contact them at (091) 514720 or through the Garda confidential line at 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
