Raphoe braced to say final farewell to mum and daughters killed in horror crash

Raphoe will fall silent today for the funeral of Una Bowden and her beloved daughters Ciara and Saoirse.

All three were killed in a horrific road traffic collision last Tuesday in County Mayo.

They were making their way back from a visit to Raphoe when tragedy struck.

Raphoe native Una (47) and her daughters Ciaran (14) and Saoirse (9) were killed instantly when their car collided with an articulated fuel lorry on the N17 at Castlegar, between Knock and Claremorris, in County Mayo shortly after 2pm on Tuesday.

Una, née Carlin, is a former student at the Royal and Prior Comprehensive School and was living recently in Moycullen, County Galway with her family.

Ms Bowden's husband, David Bowden, was abroad when he learned of the tragedy and made arrangements to return home.

The remains of Una, Ciara and Saoirse were brought back to Donegal on Monday evening, accompanied by a team of Garda outriders, from Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar.

Hundreds of mourners have paid their respects at the wake held at the Carlin farm at Milltown, Raphoe, where Una grew up and where Ciara and Saoirse had many happy visits.

Their Funeral Mass will take place at 12noon in St Eunan's Church, Raphoe.

They will be laid to rest at the old graveyard in Convoy, alongside Una's late mother, Mary, who died in April 1993.