LAST UPDATE | 11 Apr 2023

THE FUNERAL OF one of the students who died in the single-vehicle crash in Co Galway is to take place this later this week.

The two teenagers who died have been named locally as Lukas Joyce from Annaghdown and Kirsty Bohan from Headford, both aged 14. 

Kirsty Bohan’s funeral mass will take place Friday at 12 noon in the Church of St Patrick and Cuana, with burial afterwards in Donaghpatrick Cemetery.

The funeral details of Lukas Joyce have yet to be announced. 

Lukas Joyce died at the scene of the accident and Kirsty Bohan was pronounced dead at University College Hospital.

Both were second year students at Presentation College Headford.

Two other teenagers were seriously injured in the crash which happened a short distance outside Headford in north Co Galway at around 5.45am yesterday morning.

Another second year student in the school, a 14-year-old girl from Headford, has been transferred from University College Galway to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin for treatment.

A 13-year-old boy from Headford, a first year student at the school, is also in a serious condition at University College Hospital.

Relatives and friends have been comforting the four families involved.

The deceased girl has two older sisters who also attend Presentation College Headford.

The school, which is closed for Easter holidays, issued a letter to students and parents outlining the support network available in the coming days to help deal with the tragic accident.

“The school has experienced the sudden and tragic deaths of two treasured members of our PCH community. We are deeply saddened by these deaths. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these students.

“The school will be open tomorrow, 11 April from 11am to 2pm to offer support to the classmates, friends and any students who need support. The study hall will be available.

“We will have staff members and psychologists from NEPS (National Educational Psychological Service) available for anyone who needs support at this terribly tragic and confusing time.

“It is possible that your child may have some feelings and questions s/he may like to discuss with you. It is important to give factual information that is age appropriate.

“Over the course of the coming days, please keep a close eye on your child and allow him/her to express their feelings without criticism. We anticipate that the next few days will be very difficult for everyone and we will be available as a supportive community, as needed.”

The chairperson of the school’s board of management, Councillor Mary Hoade, said the area is stunned by what has happened.

“We are deeply shocked and deeply saddened. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and the injured and also with their friends and classmates. It is unbelievable what has happened.

“Everyone is numb and we just need to put as many support networks in place,” she said.

In a statement this morning, the Department of Education said it joins with the community in Galway “as we mourn the devastating loss of beloved students this weekend”.

“Our thoughts are with the families who are mourning the loss of their children, and with the students and their families who are currently receiving care in hospital following the incident,” the statement read.

“Within the local school, the wellbeing of the students, staff and whole school community is of paramount importance.”

The Department said it is appealing to representatives of all media outlets to respect school boundaries at this time.

“It would be of enormous assistance to school communities if media also refrain from filming or approaching anyone on their way to and from the school in Headford, so that students and families have privacy on their journeys and can access the supports they may need.

“We thank the media for their forbearance and understanding of the students’ and school community’s needs at this tragic and difficult time.”

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland this morning, Headford parish priest Fr Ray Flaherty said the local community is “totally numbed” by the news.

“They’re shocked and they’re in disbelief at what has happened to these young people because they’re all known. The families are all known to the local people and the local communities around Headford as well. We’re just in disbelief, really,” he said.

Galway county councillor Andrew Reddington told Morning Ireland that it was an “absolutely terrible day” for the area. 

“It’s traumatic and the heartache is unreal amongst everybody,” he said.

“The two families of the deceased children are well known within the Headford and Corrandulla area, and extremely well respected within the area.”

The Fine Gael councillor commended the children’s school for offering its support to help deal with the tragedy.

“I think it’s important for me to say as well from the amount of phone calls I got yesterday that we need to let the families grieve their children now, protect the integrity of the families and just to be careful about what’s put online in relation to this.”

Reddington said the accident was one of the worst things that he remember happening in the area and that it will never be forgotten.

“Headford is the main town but it’s surrounded by rural parishes, and a lot of these kids would know each other because there’s a massive school there where all the kids from all the different parishes go to the school.

“It’s going to be extremely tough for the whole area for the next couple of weeks and all I can say is that the support will be there and we will do our very best to support the families and support people in the area.”

The accident happened around 5.45am on a narrow stretch of road at Pollacullaire off the N84 Headford to Ballinrobe road.

No other vehicle was involved and it is believed their car may have collided with a tree.

There had been heavy rain throughout Sunday and overnight in the area.

Emergency services attended the scene, where one boy was pronounced dead. The remaining three occupants were taken to University Hospital Galway about 30km away where a 14-year old girl was pronounced dead.

It is the second tragedy in two months in Galway in which teenagers have died in a car accident.

In February, John Keenan Sammon (16) and Christy Stokes (19) from Ballinfoyle in the city, and their friend 17-year-old Wojcieck Panek from Limerick, died when the car they were in entered the water on the Corrib at Menlo Pier.

Additional reporting from Jane Moore