Following the tragic death of Kieran Cunningham on Wednesday morning, a feeling of sorrow and despair has spread across the city. A native of Claregalway, Kieran had worked full time for the last 18 months at the deli counter in Hughes’ supermarket in Claregalway. The east Galway man was the eldest of three children from Slievefinn. Friends and family have all been devastated by the news of his untimely death.
Eva Hughes, manager of Hughes’ supermarket paid tribute to the 20-year-old: “We’re all in shock at the moment, he was here yesterday, and a nicer man you couldn’t meet. He was always very happy and unassuming. Staff have commented that he was always the life and soul of the department he worked in, we all thought so highly of him. He was with us for the last 18 months full time, and was always very consciencious and hard working.”
Following the tragic stabbing, which left Kieran dead, the supermarket manager said she could not understand the motive behind the unprecedented attack. “He was loved by colleagues and had a great bunch of friends, they’re a great bunch of lads, not an ounce of badness in any of them, brought up very well, and never got into trouble. He will be sorely missed.” Hughes added that “customers and staff are all upset, he had such a good rapport with them, it’s so tragic, you just never think that anything like this would happen on your doorstep.”
