Condolence books open across Ireland for Creeslough victims

Books were also opened at Donegal County Council offices from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. in Lifford, Letterkenny, Carndonagh, Donegal Town, Dungloe and Milford.

In Dublin, Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy has opened an online book of condolences, as has Limerick Mayor Francis Foley.

A book was also opened in Cork City Hall by Mayor Deirdre Forde.

A number of condolence books will also be open to the public across Northern Ireland, including at Belfast City Hall, Stormont and the Guildhall in Londonderry.

Stormont Chairman Alex Maskey was the first to sign the book of condolences at the Parliament Buildings, followed by Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O’Neill and DUP Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots .

Ms O’Neill said: ‘My thoughts are very much with the families who have lost loved ones at Creeslough.

“The country is certainly in mourning right now over what was such a tragic and random event.

“I visited on Saturday evening, had the chance to speak to some of the local residents.

“Someone as young as young five-year-old Shauna (Flanagan Garwe) is just beyond belief and heartbreaking and just plain devastating to all those families in that wider circle.

“So our thoughts are very much with the community in the days ahead, as they certainly have a long way to go to come to terms with what has happened as they rest their loved ones.”

Opening the book at Belfast City Hall, Lord Mayor Tina Black said: ‘I want to say we are devastated here in Belfast for the people of Creeslough.

“We obviously have deep historical ties to Donegal. It has always been considered a place of refuge.

“I cannot imagine the immeasurable grief the families and the wider community feel.

“I know the community will be strong and united.

“I want the Creeslough community to know that Belfast is thinking of them all. We are praying for all of you and we are so, so sorry that this devastation happened to you. »

She added: “I wanted to open this condolence book at the town hall today.

“I encourage everyone to come send a message to those of Creeslough.

“Send a message of support, send a message of solidarity and also show how much the citizens of Belfast truly sympathize with the Creeslough community.

“I would also like to thank all the emergency services in Donegal and here who worked under such traumatic circumstances during the search and recovery operation.”

A book will open in Derry’s Guildhall at 3pm and there will be a candlelight vigil in the city at 8pm.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Sandra Duffy said the weekend had been “sad” for the North West.

She added: “It was a deeply sad weekend for the people of Donegal, Derry and Tyrone as we watched in disbelief the details of the tragedy unfold in Creeslough.

“There are no words for the sadness and grief we all feel.

“Our hearts ache for the families of the victims and the wider Creeslough community for their terrible loss.

“It’s a small rural community and for a tragedy of this magnitude to occur is simply unthinkable.”