Creeslough tragedy: Candle-lit vigils being held in Inishowen and Derry

Hundreds upon hundreds of people gathered at the Diamond in Carndonagh on Saturday evening for a candlelit vigil in solidarity with the people of Creeslough, during which prayers were said.

There will be eight more cande-lit prayer vigils at towns and villages across the Inishowen peninsula this evening, Sunday.

These vigils will take place at Buncrana GAA (Shorefront) 7.00 pm, Burnfoot (Halfway House) 8.00 pm, Burt GAA (Hibernian Park) 8.00 pm, Clonmany (Square) 7.00 pm, Malin (Village Green) 7.30 pm, Moville (St Pius X Church) 7.30 pm, N Padraig GAA (Maurice McMenamin Park) 7.00 pm, and Newtown (Columban Hall) 7.00 pm.

There will also be a vigil in Derry city centre at Guildhall Square at 8pm on Monday.

Announcing the vigil in Derry, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Sandra Duffy extended her heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of those killed in the gas explosion at a service station in Creeslough Co Donegal over the weekend.

The 10 victims have been named as Catherine O'Donnell, 39, and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan; Robert Garwe, 50, and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe; 14-year-old Leona Harper; Jessica Gallagher, 24; James O'Flaherty, 48; Martin McGill, 49; Martina Martin, 49, and 59-year-old Hugh Kelly.

Mayor Duffy said the people of the North West were heartbroken at the tragedy and wanted to show their support for the community in Creeslough. She will open a Book of Condolence at the Guildhall from tomorrow afternoon at 3pm to allow the public to express their sympathy while a Candlelit Vigil in memory of the victims has been organised to take place at 8pm on the Guildhall steps.

Mayor Duffy said: “It has been a deeply sad weekend for the people of Donegal, Derry and Tyrone as we watched in disbelief details of the tragedy unfold in Creeslough. There are no words for the sadness and grief we all feel. Our hearts are sore for the victim’s families and the wider community in Creeslough for their terrible loss. It’s a small rural community and for a tragedy of this magnitude to happen is just unthinkable. On behalf of the people of Derry City and Strabane District, I want to offer my condolences and sympathy to all those affected. I also want to acknowledge the work of the emergency services and the volunteers from both sides of the border who came together to work tirelessly all weekend as part of the rescue operation.

“A Book of Condolence will be available for signing on Monday afternoon from 3pm in the Guildhall and also online via the Council website, and I am inviting people to come along to the Guildhall on Monday evening at 8pm to take part in a candlelit vigil to show their solidarity and support to the people of Creeslough. I think it is important that we extend our sympathies and messages of love to our closest neighbours at this terrible time and let them know they are in our thoughts and prayers in the difficult days and weeks ahead.”