The funeral mass and burial of Ben Duffy (5 ), Treen, Tourmakeady will take place today, Friday, June 5 at 12 noon in Tourmakeady church, with burial taking place afterwards in Aghagower Cemetery. The funeral cortege will travel via Trianlar, Srah and Killawalla en route to Aghagower Cemetery. In accordance with HSE guidelines, the funeral will be for family only.
Local Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has expressed his sympathy to the heartbroken family of the 5-year-old boy who lost his life in Lough Mask in tragic circumstances.
Dillon said: "A tragedy like this has rocked the local community and a sense of numbness has swept across Tourmakeady. The family are well known in the area and involved in many aspects of community life such as farming and the GAA.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the family at this most difficult time, the shock and enormous grief this has brought to them and the entire community is palpable.
"I’d like to pay special tribute to the Corrib Mask Search & Rescue Unit, Grannie Uaile Sub Aqua team, Irish Coastguard, the Gardai and all the volunteers who supported the rescues efforts since the alarm was raised."
Corrib Mask Search and Rescue Unit, who participated in the search for Ben, expressed their sympathies to the family of the boy whose body was found on Lough Mask on Tuesday.
Niall O’Meachair, Area Director of Units for the Connemara Area, said on Wednesday that: "This is an unspeakable tragedy for the family and the local community. Unfortunately, we deal with events like this every year and it never gets easier. Tonight, there’s a family that’s torn apart and we are heartbroken for their loss, and offer them our sincere condolences.”
Corrib Mask Search and Rescue Unit were tasked by the Malin Head coastguard on Monday evening and were on the water and actively searching for the boy within twelve minutes of receiving the call.
O’Meachair continued, saying: "We worked up until it got dark on Monday night and called a halt to the search around 11pm. From half four the next morning we were back with our crew on the water. We briefed the divers, the local volunteers, the professionals and the other agencies and thanks to the work of everybody involved, the child’s body was recovered within a short period of time.”
Friends of the family of Ben have set up a campaign to support the family during this terrible time, you can make a donation at https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-ben-duffy.
Funeral takes place today of man who lost his life in road accident
The funeral of the late Gerard (Gerry ) O'Hora, Convent Hill Avenue, Ballina, who lost his life in a single vehicle accident in Ballina on Tuesday, will take place today.
The late Mr O'Hora's funeral will take place in St. Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina, today Friday, June 5 with Requiem Mass at 12.30pm and his burial afterwards in Leigue Cemetery.
Ballina Stephenites GAA club paid tribute to the late Mr O'Hara, saying: "Ballina Stephenites GAA Club extends its sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Gerry O'Hora, especially his wife Teresa and sons Sean and Matthew; brothers and sisters, Maureen, Frank, Doris, Breda, Brendan, Raymond, Kieran, Vincent, Seamus, Christopher, Damien and Valentine.
"Gerry was a true GAA Man, and avid Mayo supporter, however his first love was his club na Stiofanaigh. We will all miss his sideline support and attendance at every match, be it underage, minor, junior, or senior teams, supporting all. May His Gentle Soul Rest In Peace."
