Heartfelt condolences are being extended towards Una Bowden (47) and her daughters, Ciara (14) and Saoirse (9), who tragically lost their lives in a devastating accident in Co Mayo this past Tuesday. The calamity took place on the N17 highway, not far from Claremorris around 2pm, when the vehicle being driven by Ms. Bowden collided with a large lorry. Residing near Moycullen at Gortachalla, a Gaeltacht region in western Galway, notifications regarding the grievous incident have been shared with their next of kin.
David Bowden, husband to Una, and father to Ciara and Saoirse, was on his way back to Ireland when the incident transpired. Mr. Bowden, a project manager serving the United Nations, has been involved in a humanitarian mission in Tigray, a region in Ethiopia.
Una, originally a Co Donegal native, had spent a few years living in Africa with David prior to moving to Galway. Their daughters were still at school, with Ciara attending the first year of secondary school, and Saoirse in primary school.
Tragedy struck the Mayo community, inducing a wave of shock and deep sadness, as the locals mourned the loss of a mother and her daughters. Autopsies of the deceased were conducted on Wednesday morning at the Mayo University Hospital, the results of which will not be made public for undisclosed reasons. The driver of the lorry was not physically harmed in the incident.
Simon Harris, the incoming taoiseach, expressed his devastation and condolences regarding the ‘incredibly sombre and shattering day’ in Mayo. He voiced his intention to focus more actively on road safety issues, acknowledging the increasing loss of lives on Irish roads.
An emotional announcement was broadcasted by Moycullen Basketball Club: “The Cumann Cispheile Mhaigh Cuilinn community is terribly saddened by the knowledge of the tragic passing of our neighbours and clubmates Una, Ciara, and Saoirse Bowden. The Bowdens were well-known and active members of multiple local sports communities.”
Ciara was chosen to be part of the under-14 girls’ basketball team of the Galway Area. The Bowden family is being remembered by everyone associated with Cumann Cispheile Mhaigh Cuilinn. People express their solidarity and extend love and support to the family, friends, and teammates of the Bowden family. “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h’anam dílis.”
Additionally, Oughterard Rugby Club, an establishment in which the family had a connection with the girls’ rugby teams, also extended their condolences. The message insisted that David, the girl’s father and Una’s husband, their extended family, acquaintances, teammates, and neighbours, the whole Bowden family are in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult phase.
Cumann Iománaíochta Mhaigh Cuilinn, another club where the Bowden’s were active, extended their empathy towards the affected family and friends.
In Claremorris, independent councillor Richard Finn commented that the local community was reeling from shock and sorrow. He extended his sympathies to the woman and the two girls’ family and relatives and applauded the emergency services for their quick and dedicated response.
Mayo County Council’s Cathaoirleach, Michael Loftus, marked Tuesday as a tragic day for County Mayo, referring to both the tragic N17 accident and the death of two senior citizens, Tom and Eileen Mahon, in a house fire in Swinford. “The county witnessed five deaths in a day, which is unheard of,” Loftus commented and asserted that regardless of the victims’ geographic origins, each loss has drastically impacted their respective communities.
Loftus shared his prayers and thoughts with the devastated family members of the victims.
Fr Peter Gannon, residing in Claremorris, described Tuesday as a somber and sad day, which turned unthinkably worse upon hearing the news of the accident. Having seen multiple fatal accidents at the same spot over the years, he noted that this particular stretch of the road had been the unfortunate location of several lives lost.
On Wednesday, Gardaí asked for incident witnesses to come forward and urged social media users not to share photographs of the distressing crash scene. Throughout the year, a total of 54 individuals have died in road accidents in Ireland.