'A dark cloud over everybody': Hundreds attend vigil for Buncrana drowning victims

Dark clouds hung above the waters of Lough Swilly as the Buncrana community turned out in droves to remember teenagers Matt Sibanda and Emmanuel Familola.

Hundreds packed into St Mary’s Oratory in Buncrana and many more stood outside as a vigil was held for the victims of a drowning tragedy on Saturday.

The Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown, led the emotional vigil.

Many parents arrived hand-in-hand with their children, the grip a little bit tighter now. 

Just 24 hours earlier, said Bishop McKeown, “the sun was shining, the sky was blue, the sea was attractive”.

A different landscape now rests beyond Lough Swilly.

“A dark cloud has come over everybody in different ways, but especially the families of Emmanuel and Matt,” Bishop McKeown said.

The body of 18-year-old Matt Sibanda was removed from the water shortly after 9pm on Saturday by the Greencastle Coastguard between Ned’s Point and Fahan. 

Earlier, Emmanuel Familola, a 16-year-old, was plucked from the water and rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital, where doctors battled in vain to save his life. However, he passed away overnight and his heartbroken mother, Glory, bravely attended the vigil, supported by friends and family.

Matt, originally from Zimbabwe, came to Donegal with his family and attended Crana College. Emmanuel, a Nigerian national, had also been living in Buncrana with his family and was a student at Scoil Mhuire.

Glory Famiola, mother of Emmanuel Familola, makes her way to the vigil. 

Bishop McKeown said: “We have two families who came here and found welcome in Buncrana, who travelled here for safety, and found this tragedy.

“Many of our young people are always very much affected by occasions like this, when you lose a schoolmate from Crana College or Scoil Mhuire; the ground seems to move from under your feet.”

Buncrana Parish Priest Fr Francis Bradley, Buncrana curate Fr John Walsh, and Fahan curate Fr Patrick Baker were also in attendance. 

Fr John Joe Duffy, the Creeslough-based curate whose own community was plunged into tragedy in 2022 when an explosion at a filling station complex claimed the lives of 10 people, was among the large crowd that swelled close to 1,000.

A stone memorial rested at the Church door, bearing the inscription: “Emmanuel and Matt. May your gentle souls Rest In Peace. From the Buncrana Community."

Buncrana Hearts tops dotted the Church and the club paid tribute, saying: “Our wee town has had more than its fair share of tragedies and once again yesterday afternoon whilst out enjoying the beautiful sunshine these two young lads were taken from their families way too soon”.

TDs Charlie McConalogue and Charles Ward were joined by local Councillors Jack Murray and Fionan Bradley and former Councillor Rena Donaghey.

“It’s an awful tragedy,” Deputy McConalogue told Donegal Live. “These were two young teenagers in the flow of life. To be taken away in a moment like that is just an awful tragedy. It’s wonderful to see the turn out from the local community to show solidarity.

“We have had our share of tragedy over the years. We have to recognise the great response from the emergency services and everyone who came to the scene. There are never any words; all anyone can do is to try to provide comfort and support.”

Members of An Garda Siochána, Coast Guard and other emergency services and agencies involved in the operation, led by the Malin Head Coastguard, on Saturday were in attendance.

Prayers were said for a third teenager, who was able to swim ashore and he is said to be in a comfortable condition in hospital.

Readings were delivered by Garda Sergeant Charlene Anderson and Councillor Fionan Bradley.

Prayers of the faithful were read by school principals Kevin Cooley (Crana College) and Evelyn McLoughlin (Scoil Mhuire) and Ruth Garvey-Williams from The Exchange community centre in Buncrana.

Bishop McKeown told the large congregation that there were “nothing but questions with no answers” as they deal with “the awfulness of death, the suddenness of loss, and the terrible wounds left by those who are snatched from us”.