Mother and daughters killed in horrific Mayo crash had been visiting relatives

Una Carlin Bowden (47) and daughters Ciara (14) and Saoirse (10) died immediately when their automobile collided with a gas lorry on the N17 exterior Claremorris, Co Mayo.

The household had lived in Gortachalla, Moycullen, Co Galway, for a number of years and the women attended college regionally.

Ciara was a first-year pupil within the Salerno Secondary Faculty in Galway metropolis. Saoirse was in third class in Scoil Naomh Bride, Tullykyne Nationwide Faculty in Moycullen.

Ms Carlin Bowden’s husband, David Bowden, who works as a senior challenge supervisor for the UN, was anticipated to reach again in Eire final evening.

It took gardaí many hours to make contact with Mr Bowden, who was engaged on a significant humanitarian challenge in Ethiopia.

Ms Carlin Bowden was initially from the Raphoe space of Co Donegal.

It’s understood the household had been ­coming back from visiting her father, John Carlin, in Donegal when the street accident occurred.

It’s believed the Bowdens had lived for a few years in Africa earlier than returning to Eire and settling in Moycullen with their two daughters.

Mr Bowden continued his work with UN, however travelled dwelling frequently to Moycullen. He had been as a result of return dwelling tomorrow.

Brian MacLochlainn, the principal of Scoil Naomh Bride, stated the entire college group was “utterly devastated and heartbroken” by the tragedy.

“We right here in Scoil Naomh Bríde, Tully­kyne are deeply saddened by the lack of three fantastic members of our college group,” he stated. “Saoirse was a third-class pupil and was an extremely joyful, proficient younger lady with an infectious enthusiasm and wit that couldn’t assist however be a optimistic affect on everybody she met.

“She was such an extremely well-loved character in our small college group, and we’re utterly devastated by her loss.

“Ciara didn’t attend college right here, however we received to know her over time because the splendidly sort, caring older sister and daughter that she was

“Una was a superb mom. She cared so splendidly for her household and was a superb help to the college in each method attainable.

“Right now, our total group in Tullykyne and the broader Moycullen space are all utterly devastated and heartbroken by the lack of three superb individuals.

“As we attempt to supply no matter help we are able to, our ideas are actually with ­David and the complete Bowden household at this unimaginably tough time.”

Ciara and Saoirse had been each members of Oughterard Rugby Membership, the place their mom Una offered IT help, too.

Julie Ann Brown, Oughterard Rugby Membership PRO stated whereas they had been quiet ladies, they’d “lovely vitality” and described how the group had been in shock.

“It is such a tragedy for the world. Three lovely, sort, loving, caring women simply gone in a second,” Ms Brown advised RTÉ’s Morning Eire.

“They had been such a multi-talented household and a pleasure for all to satisfy them. All the time lovely massive smiles on the sideline for Oughterard ladies rugby or getting in with the tackles and working and scoring the tries within the rugby membership and at many video games that they performed,” Ms Brown added.

Ms Brown stated the group have come collectively to grieve the lack of the mom and two daughters and keep in mind them and “their fantastic personalities”.

“Folks have been coming collectively, they’re speaking to the youngsters and speaking could be very, crucial particularly to younger kids to get them conscious of what has occurred and to not shrink back from the fantastic personalities that Ciara and Saoirse had and certainly Una had, to recollect them fondly via speaking about them and remembering their lovely smiles, remembering the vitality that they’d and the quiet vitality that they’d,” Ms Brown stated.

Parish Priest in Maigh Cuilinn Fr Martin Whelan stated the household had been concerned in lots of golf equipment within the space and had been well-known locally.

“There are a whole lot of younger households right here so a whole lot of sports activities golf equipment that play at a high degree, a whole lot of social golf equipment and the household was very a lot concerned in all of them and really well-known. That is why the group so devastated,” Fr Whelan stated.

A service was held within the native church on Wednesday night the place locals gathered to recollect Una, Ciara and Saoirse.

“We devoted that half an hour of prayer [to] keep in mind the household and it was additionally simply a chance for individuals to assemble as nicely,” Fr Whelan added.

Councillor Noel Thomas, who lived close to the Bowden household in Moycullen, stated the information had devastated the group.

“Everyone seems to be shocked and devastated. I believe it’s essentially the most tragic terrible information that has hit this group for so long as I can ever keep in mind,” he stated.

“For 2 kids to lose their lives with their mom is simply unimaginable, and their poor father coming dwelling to face into this nightmare.

“I actually can’t think about the ache that man is feeling. There isn’t any doubt about it, you couldn’t get a extra supportive group than Moycullen.

“And I’m certain all the chums they’ve made right here will come collectively and something they will to assist the poor household on this horrible time.”

An area girl described Ms Carlin Bowden as “lovely and mild”.

“She appeared like a kind of moms who simply wished to make life enjoyable and fulfilling for her daughters,” she stated.

“Each mom is devoted, however she actually appeared to dwell for her ladies. We’re all simply damaged with shock.

“How such a horrible factor like this might occur makes you query this world. I want these lovely ladies and their mammy the nice and cozy loving embrace of heaven tonight.”

The collision occurred shortly after 2pm on Tuesday on a straight part of the N17 exterior Claremorris and close to Knock.

It isn’t identified what precipitated the accident, however preliminary inquires have steered that Ms Carlin Bowden misplaced management and her automotive strayed into the trail of an oncoming gas lorry.

It’s understood her automobile was ­pulling a trailer and this may need ­destabilised it.

A van driver who was instantly ­behind the household managed to take evasive motion and crashed right into a ditch, however was unhurt.

Each the van and lorry driver had been handled on the scene for shock and had been taken to Mayo College Hospital to be assessed.

Put up-mortems passed off yesterday at Mayo College Hospital.

The stretch of street the place the tragedy occurred is a infamous accident black spot and has been the scene of a number of casualties over time.

The deaths of Ms Carlin Bowden and her daughters brings to 54 the variety of individuals killed on Irish roads this yr.

There was a 24pc enhance in street deaths since January 1 in contrast with the identical interval final yr.

Fourteen individuals died on Irish roads this month alone, which equates to a median of 1 loss of life nearly each 48 hours.

Co Mayo had 12 street deaths final yr, in keeping with the Street Security Authority (RSA).

There have been eight deaths within the county to this point this yr, together with 5 within the Claremorris space.