Funeral of Tiernan Doherty hears how silence told story of Carndonagh's sorrow

The funeral Mass of Carndonagh teenager Tiernan Doherty heard how the silence spoke volumes in the Inishowen town this week.

The 18-year-old, from Convent Road, Carndonagh, died in a single-vehicle crash on the R244 Mountain Road at Ballinlough, near Buncrana shortly after 5am on Sunday.

Fr Con McLaughlin, the Carndonagh parish priest, told mourners at the Sacred Heart Church for Thursday's funeral how the community has been “struggling” since news spread on Sunday of the latest tragedy on the peninsula's roads.

Among the large crowd of mourners were Tiernan's parents, Kevin and Louise, his younger brothers Kyrin, Cohen and Keegan, his heartbroken girlfriend Kaylah and grandparents Sean and Maureen.

A talented sportsman with Carndonagh Football Club and Carndonagh GAA Club, a football jersey and trophies were among the mementos carried to the altar.

Carndonagh - Sacred Heart Church

Fr McLaughlin recalled how Tiernan's uncle, Kenny Kelly, was tragically killed at the age of 27 in 2008, also in a road traffic collision.

Fr McLaughlin said he was almost “lost for words” at a tragedy that brought a dark cloud over the community.

“It doesn't seem fair that parents bury their own children,” he said.

Fr McLaughlin told how the scene at the wake house summed up the mood of the week in Carndonagh.

At the front of the house were two tents with a group of friends huddled together in one during a visit by the priest.

“None of them were saying anything,” Fr McLaughlin said. “Just silence. What had happened was just too much for them to process in their minds. Their friend was taken away, suddenly and cruelly, and they couldn't quite handle it.

“When we are young, the world stretches out in front of us, with all its challenges and possibilities. Death is out in the future. When it comes and hits us when we're young, we can't process it.”

Fr McLaughlin said Tiernan was a hard worker who hoped to be a plasterer. From the age of 11, he helped his father at work on construction sites. Having just passed his driving test, he responded to a call from friends to pick them up in Buncrana on Sunday morning.

Fr McLaughlin thought of Tiernan's friends and of the many tragedies and car crashes that have occurred over Inishowen in the last year.

He said: “It all seems too much for a community to process. We ask God to protect our people, and our young people on the roads and keep them safe. Nobody wants to have to answer the door to a dreaded knock early in the morning.”

Fr McLaughlin asked for prayers for the emergency services.

“We give thanks for their courage and their enduring professionalism.”

A large group of students from Carndonagh Community School were among the hundreds who gathered to say a final farewell.

Carndonagh Community School paid tribute to a “truly remarkable young man”. In a tribute, they said: “Beyond his talents and achievements, Tiernan was a young man of exceptional character.

“Polite, well-mannered, and respectful, he treated everyone – teachers, peers, and friends – with kindness and genuine warmth. He had a way of making people feel valued, and that is a gift that not everyone possesses.”

Gardai continue to appeal for witnesses to the collision to come forward.

A spokesperson said: “Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 4:30am and 5.30am are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station on 074-9320540, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”