“We are all thinking of everyone in Creeslough"

That’s how Labour party MP Pat McFadden described his and the feelings of many living abroad nearly two months after an explosion at the Applegreen Service Station claimed the lives of 10 people.

Now the 57-year-old Wolverhampton member of the English Parliament, who has strong Donegal connections, is telling how he, like many others, reacted to the news then and since.

He describes the moment he heard the news of the explosion as “a terrible shock”.

“A tragedy like that would always be a terrible shock but particularly in a place, I knew to be a small close-knit community. You knew instantly that everyone involved would know one another.

“I also found the pictures very striking on television over here because they were so familiar. I knew people coming out of the church in Creeslough for example, familiar faces, if you like. My heart really went out to the community.”

He said with all the coverage of different events on the news every day from around the world, Creeslough was the last place he expected to hear mentioned.
“You never expect somewhere as small as Creeslough to be in the news at all. That tragedy was something so random. You can also think of all the reasons why you would have dropped into that garage or shop when the school was coming out, it was just terrible.

“I can’t imagine the pain that the community there is going through and I think anyone who has a family connection with Donegal, wherever they are in the world, will be thinking about them."

Pat makes an annual trip to the Falcarragh area, the place his parents originally came from.

Earlier this year he visited many places throughout the locality including Creeslough, Doe Castle and Carrigart while on his annual holiday.

Recalling this sparked off memories from his childhood days when he visited Falcarragh during his summer holidays.

"Both my parents came from farms close to one another. Our connections there are close and strong. I spent all my childhood school holidays there and in adult life, it's a place I always return to. I am the youngest in a family of seven and like to maintain that connection."

Indeed he is treated like a local when he visits, he says.

Pat, fourth from left at the bench dedicated to his parents in Falcarragh. From (l-r) with brothers and sisters: Moira McFadden, Danny McFadden, Sheamus McFadden, Shelah Brown. Pat has two other brothers who were not in the picture, Hugh and Brian McFadden.

"The last time I was over I bought some flowers for my parent's graves. I called into The Corner Bar in Falcarragh to pay for them and one of the lads in it asked if I was "one of the 'Coopers' - the name my mother's family were known as. Sometimes I get asked if I am a son of Jimmy Den, again the name by which my father would have been known in his day. That's the way it goes.”

He adds the McFadden family in general tries to make it over every year for the annual graveyard Mass.

“Covid disrupted this a bit but the family tries to be over for the last weekend in July or the first weekend in August. We use that for a bit of a family reunion and book into a few places in the area including Dunfanaghy as there’s quite a lot going on there in the restaurants and pubs.”

He also feels it’s important his own children feel the connection with his love of Donegal too.

“I take my own kids over as well. I want Donegal to be part of their upbringing as well. I took them up around Horn Head.

“I had hoped to climb Errigal but couldn’t squeeze that in but I’ve taken my son up to the top of Muckish. We have also spent time on beaches at Falcarragh and Marble Hill. Donegal is very dear to us and is part of who we are.

“Both my parents are buried at the churchyard in Falcarragh. My mother passed away about four and a half years ago now.

“We took her 'home' as she would say even though she lived in Glasgow for most of her adult life.

“When she built her holiday home in Falcarragh she spent a lot of time there and just pottered around. She loved the place.”

Pat says he hopes to be back next August for a few days. He enjoys taking part in the Falcarragh park run event around Ballyconnell House,

“I think the whole area is just beautiful and a wonderful place for a family holiday and it’s extra special when there is a family connection to these places.”

He says even at this stage, some time on from the Creeslough incident, it still must be so hard for everyone affected.

“My only message is we are thinking of them. Because of its history and so many people leaving Donegal over the years going to countries all over the world, there will be people all over the world thinking the same way as me about it.”