President Higgins pays pre-Christmas visit to Creeslough

The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, visited Creeslough to offer his continued support to the community.

President Higgins, who was in Donegal for the burial of Private Seán Rooney in Newtowncunningham, stayed in Letterkenny and visited Creeslough.

Fr John Joe Duffy said the President 'is carrying us all in his heart'.

“The President enquired about the families of the bereaved, those who were injured, those who lost their homes and all who were affected by the tragedy,” Fr Duffy said.

President Higgins remembers Creeslough and Pte Seán Rooney in Christmas message

'I hope this coming year will bring you some space for healing and that, along with your profound sadness, your loved ones can be remembered with appreciation by you for all that was shared with them, your lives together'

“President Higgins expressed his heartfelt desire that I let all who are affected by the tragedy of the 7th October 2022, know that they all are in his thoughts and will continue to be over these days in a particular way.”

A horrific explosion at the Applegreen complex claimed the lives of ten people, plunging the community into a shock it still feels so vividly.

Leona Harper, Robert Garwe and his daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe, Jessica Gallagher, James O'Flaherty, Martina Martin, Hugh Kelly, Catherine O'Donnell with her son James Monaghan and Martin McGill all died in the explosion.

Fr Duffy met with the President and informed him of the steps the community has taken since its darkest hour, including a series of Novena Masses featuring a range of musicians and speakers.

The St Michael's Under-13s tasted Championship success, Caolan McFadden won an Irish Cross Country title, the Creeslough Annual has been published and the Christmas lights display – including a tribute to the ten – burn as something of a beacon of hope and fundraising efforts have touched the hearts of many.

Fr Duffy said:“I also informed the President of the services that are still in place and what we as a community have been undertaking since the tragedy in Creeslough which has affected so many people and communities beyond the physical geographical entity of what is Creeslough.

“When we talk of the Creeslough tragedy of October 7th, we include all those from the diaspora of Creeslough worldwide and all who are affected and impacted upon by the upheaval of the tragedy from other communities.

“So many people have been organising events locally as well as people continue to send messages, books of condolences and gifts; people across the island of Ireland and from other countries have been very kind to us.”

In the days after the explosion, President Higgins rushed back from addressing the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and attended eight of the ten funerals. He also met privately with the bereaved families.

Fr Duffy said: “Once again I want to thank the President for taking the time and for making the journey to assure all those affected by the tragedy in Creeslough of his solidarity, support and care. All are in his thoughts and you can see that the President is carrying us all in his heart.

“The community of those affected by the Creeslough tragedy, the surrounding communities and I will be forever thankful and grateful to our President who not only came to visit us but stayed with us during the funerals of eight of the people of which three were children and all so young, some just starting out on the journey of life.

“Our kind, caring, compassionate, loving, and empathic President rushed back from a European heads of State summit in those darkest days to be here with his people and in a particular way with all who were most directly impacted upon by the tragedy.”

Fr Duffy said Creeslough has shown the world 'that there are no limitations to the depth and extent of human kindness'.

He said: “We as a community will never forget those that took us to their hearts at this time of tragedy and we thank you all for continuing to keep us in your hearts and prayers.”