Creeslough explosion: Hugh Kelly's funeral takes place in the village

 

The funeral is taking place for the oldest victim of last Friday's explosion in Creeslough, County Donegal.

Hugh Kelly, 59, was one of 10 people to die from the blast at the service station in the village.

Also known as Hughie, he was a farmer from the Doe Point area and was also involved in construction work.

Like many of the other victims, his funeral Mass is being held at St Michael's Church in Creeslough.

He will be buried at Doe Cemetery, just a few kilometers from the village, following the service.

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'Hard to believe in anything after this

By Grainne Connolly,

It's another hard day for the people in the village, with crowds gathering outside St Michael's Church once again.

This time for the funeral of Hugh Kelly.

There's a mainly older crowd here today compared to some of the other funerals this week.

People lined down Main Street for a man well-known within farming circles in this part of Donegal.

One woman told News she was waiting for the Mass to start, not knowing what to do with herself.

"It's like a dream," she said.

"It makes it hard to believe in anything after all this.

"Funny, I looked from my house this morning and there was a rainbow over the petrol station (where the explosion happened) - I'm not sure what that means."

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The funerals of seven of those who died in the huge explosion have already taken place - the victims included a five-year-old girl and her father, a woman and her 13-year-old son, and two teenagers.

The blast ripped through the Applegreen service station just after 15:20 last Friday in an incident that is being treated by police as a tragic accident.

Reflecting on when he arrived in Creeslough following the explosion, the Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian told Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster program: "I don't think I've seen anything sadder."

The bishop described the moment he stood close to a couple identifying their loved one when they were taken out of the rubble as "incredibly heart-wrenching".

"There were no words. You're just there with the person. It's amazing how in every case the person who is in this awful place that you can't imagine is grateful that someone is there," he said.

Bishop McGuckian said there had been a "tsunami of prayer" from the community of Creeslough and beyond in the past week.

'So well-loved, so well-liked

On Thursday, the funeral of 14-year-old Leona Harper took place in Ramelton. She had been picking up ice cream in the shop when the explosion happened.

Fr Michael Carney told mourners at St Mary's Church that although Leona's time on this earth was "too short" she lived life to the full.

"She has made her unique contribution, left her imprint, and contributed to the lives of those she loved, lived, and laughed with."

The funeral also took place in Creeslough on Thursday of Martina Martina, who was described by the local priest as "working at the heart of the community".

She was working in the service station.

Fr John Joe Duffy said Martina was "so well loved, so well-liked" and had been "doing what she loved" when the tragedy happened.

Representatives of the Irish president, the taoiseach (Irish prime minister), and emergency services were present at both services.

Fr Duffy said the community had shown great strength to support people in recent days.

"Creeslough is a village, yes, a small village, but it is now more than just that," he explained.

"It is now a word for determination, for resolve, and for togetherness."

On Tuesday, funeral services were held at St Michael's Church in the village for Jessica Gallagher, 24, and 49-year-old Martin McGill.

James O'Flaherty, Catherine O'Donnell, and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan were buried on Wednesday.

The other two victims were Robert Garwe, 50, and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe. Their joint funeral service will take place on Saturday.