The final victims of the Creeslough tragedy will be laid to rest today in Co Donegal.
Robert Garwe, 50, and his five-year-old daughter, Shauna Flanagan Garwe, were at the Applegreen petrol station to buy a cake for Shauna’s mother when they were caught up in the explosion.
The funeral mass will take place at 11am at St Michael's Church in the village, and afterwards the pair will be cremated.
Top row, left to right: Leona Harper (14); Jessica Gallagher (24); James O'Flaherty (48); Robert Garwe (50) and his daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe (5). Bottom row, left to right: Catherine O'Donnell (39) and her son, James Monaghan (13); Martina Martin (49); Hugh Kelly (59) and Martin McGill (49)On Friday morning, 59-year-old Hugh Kelly was buried; a farmer and construction worker, Mr Kelly the oldest victim of the blast and described as “cheery” by his neighbours.
During the funeral service, a jewellery box that Mr Kelly had made and given to his niece was placed on the altar.
“Among the symbols that will be brought forward is a jewellery box that you made,” Fr John Joe Duffy said.
“Representing usability to turn his hand to so many things. That attention he had for detail.
"That sharp eye and the many things he fixed and made for family and for friends – as Hugh would tell you himself, nobody could do it like himself.”
Hugh Kelly. Picture supplied by An Garda SíochánaLater on Friday, around 100 people gathered beside the wreckage of the petrol station for a minute's silence.
Yesterday marked one week since the explosion.
Sinn Féin TD for Donegal Pearse Doherty said Creeslough had proven itself to be the definition of a strong community.
“There’s a sense of helplessness and all we can do for the families and for this community,” he told Newstalk.
“I think if you were to look up the definition of ‘community’, you’d find the word ‘Creeslough’.”
Additional reporting: Jack Quann
