Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Updated 12.30pm
OVER €90,000 HAS been raised by thoughtful locals for the family of the five people who lost their lives in last weekend’s horrific tragedy in Buncrana, Co Donegal.
Derry woman Louise Daniels lost her husband, mother, sister, and two sons, in the freak accident as their car slipped into the water on an algae-covered slipway in the north Donegal town.
Her infant daughter, Rioghnach-Ann, was saved by local man Davitt Walsh who swam to the family’s sinking car and returned to shore with the baby.
Now, locals Martin McGranaghan and Michelle Black have launched a crowdfunding campaign to help out in any way they can.
The two had never met each other before this week, but took it upon themselves to do whatever they could to aid the grieving family.
And their funding campaigns have exceeded all expectations – raising about €90,000.
“I first knew something was happening when I heard the helicopters out, and then everyone was saying on Facebook that something had happened,” says Michelle, a Scottish native living in Buncrana.
The idea of setting up a funding page came to her “when I heard it was a family, when I heard there were children involved”.
“I was quite unsettled all evening, because this could happen to anybody,” she says.
Then Marty contacted me to say ‘well done’, and we realised we were doing the same thing from different angles.
At first I thought I’d take mine down because we were doing the same thing, but I’m glad I didn’t now. The response has been really overwhelming.
In Martin’s case, the initial aim for his campaign was to raise £5,000 (about €6,300). That figure is now a distant memory for the Derry native – his crowdfunding page has so far raised about 10 times its initial target, and currently stands at £49,300 (€62,000).
Meanwhile, Michelle’s Justgiving campaign has raised an additional £16,400 (€21,000).
On top of this a fundraising dinner in New York this week raised another €10,000, bringing the money raised to over €90,000.
“No words to describe the generosity of each and everyone of you who has donated, completely overwhelmed you have done an amazing thing,” Martin said in a Facebook post.
“I’m stunned and pleased,” Michelle meanwhile said in a separate post on Facebook.
Money won’t change what happened but it will hopefully show Louise that everyone around the world is thinking about her and her beautiful baby girl.
Originally published 11.10am
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
No one truly understands the heartbreak but the response of the community has been magnificent.
That special bond between this mother and daughter should be supported in every way possible.
It might help her if she decides to move away and make a new life with her baby, I can’t imagine how much it hurts to be in a place where they should be. Or help pay mortgage etc and not worry financially. No doubt she would give it back in a second to spend one more hour with them.
Ah she’s hardly going move anyway she still has lots family around , say that is very important
It’s heartwarming to see something positive coming from such an awful tragedy…..while nothing will take away their pain and grief hopefully it will at least give them one thing less to worry about for the moment
Money means nothing in a situation like this but fair play to all involved.
Of course not Shane but in the day’s and year’s ahead it will mean a lot. It would be nice for her to have no mortgage or rent to worry about, she’ll have enough to deal with. People want to help her and putting a few quid into an account for her is a way of doing it
It’s not about the money – it is a reflection on how many are/were willing to help you in your time of need. Collections were made by the local community for my own family tragedy and I often look back and cherish the memory that people were there to help. Fair play to all who donated. This story has affected people in all corners of the world- on the DM people from the UK and US were looking to donate also.
We cannot bring them back so this is just a way of sending support. Hard times ahead but hopefully this will help.
Love your surname Mary.
Ta Brian, it’s almost as good as your profile pic ;)
This is probably the worst tragedy I have ever heard of how is that women gonna cope with this when things settle down that’s the scary part
I know it’s too late for this poor family. I can’t stop thinking about them. Slipways at piers everywhere now should be gated off like in that photo so nothing like this can happen again. Very very sad and upsetting.
if ever a ‘go fund me’ was needed; this one is surely it
Glad to see people rallied around. The money won’t replace her family but it will cover their funerals and give her and her little girl some security for now. Such a terrible tragedy.
Woman
The headline says it could happen to anybody yet we don’t hear of people driving off slipways every day.
have your say