THE horrific service station explosion in Co Donegal has triggered “a tsunami of grief” across the country.
The country has been plunged into mourning after a horror blast at an Applegreen petrol station in Creeslough on Friday that killed ten people - including a young girl and two teens.
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Local priest Fr John Joe Duffy told how the community was dealing with “a tsunami of grief” as heartbroken family and friends of those caught up in the horror are having their worst fears confirmed as victims from the tragedy are named.
Tributes have been paid to Jessica Gallagher and Leona Harper.
And Catherine O'Donnell and her 14-year-old son James are also understood to be victims of the suspected gas blast along with farmer Hughie Kelly, 60, and local dad of young children James O’Flaherty.
Political, religious and community leaders expressed their shock and sadness following the tragedy.
The parish priest told those attending mass in the village that the tragedy had broken the heart of the community.
Fr Duffy said: “ There is a terrible grief and sadness beyond words in our hearts.
“Our community has been a great source of support and strength to those directly impacted by the terrible tragedy and it will continue to be that support.”
And a service tonight to remember those who lost their lives heard there is no community as strong as that in Creeslough.
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Fr Duffy hailed a major rescue effort over the last two days as "unparalleled in measure" during the service at St Michael's Church.
Hundreds of people, including emergency workers who had taken part in the search, packed the Co Donegal church on Saturday evening.
Also in attendance was Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill were also in the congregation.
CANDLES LIGHT FOR WEEK
A red candle was then lit by the Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian for each of the 10 victims of the tragedy, which included two teenagers and a young child.
The candlelit tribute will remain for a week.
Fr Duffy thanked the emergency services who "gave so much of themselves in the tremendous efforts to save lives and recover the deceased".
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He also thanked emergency workers from Northern Ireland who had joined in the search operation.
He said: "The greatest strength of any community is its people. The individuals and families that together form a community.
"The closer we are as a people the stronger the sense of community, and nowhere is that sense stronger, in no place is there as strong a community as we have here in Creeslough. Especially at this time."
HEARTS BEYOND BROKEN
He added: "Our hearts are indeed broken, we all sense a numbness, a disbelief that we are really experiencing this tragedy, that it is real.
"The grief we see in the young and in the old shows that this is a family that cares for each other, a genuine community.
"We suffer the loss, we all sense the pain.
"The days ahead will be difficult days. I wish there was some easier way, but unfortunately there is not.
"However, the strength of our community will carry us."
'UNPARALLELED'
He said the parish "owed so much" to those who had taken part in the emergency search operation.
The priest added: "The effort we saw in our community was unparalleled in measure and we are so very grateful.
"Let us now be there for each other, let us journey together in these sad times."
Bishop McGuckian said: "The heart of this beautiful community of Creeslough, our community of Donegal and our national community, has been sorely bruised - broken, even - by the horror of this situation."
Several politicians took time to meet with local residents outside the church following the service.
President Michael D Higgins described the tragedy as a “terrible blow” to a close knit community as Taoiseach Micheal Martin branded the disaster “a dark day” for Donegal.
TAOISEACH AT SITE
Speaking at the cordon of the blast site, Mr Martin said there was "deep sadness" in the village and a "terrible silence" reflecting the enormity of what has happened.
He said: "The entire nation is mourning and deeply saddened.
"A young child in the shop and two teens as well as men and women who were going about their lives as well.
"It is a very close-knit community and our heart goes out to them."
The Taoiseach added: "Talking to those on the front line and everyone involved, they were very moved by the extraordinary support they got from the community here almost immediately.
"Many volunteers rushed to the scene to try and do everything they could to help because it was an horrific scene they came upon and we must always remember our emergency services.
"I want to thank them for helping those who were trapped and injured. We must do everything we can to support the community.
"Words on their own will not console someone who has lost a loved one and we have to be with them. We will be with them for quite some time."
The blast - thought most likely to have been caused by a gas leak - happened at around 3.20pm on Friday, destroying a service station building along with a section of an apartment block.
Gerald Duffy of the Muckish Development Group said he rushed to the scene as soon as he heard what happened - and revealed how he would have known most of those who lost their lives.
'HUGE AMOUNT OF DEVASTATION'
He said: “Everybody is just shocked, there’s no words. You can’t put words to it.
“We’re a small community. We’ll gather round as best we can.
“Everybody knows one another. There’s just no words. When the funerals start, that’s when it’ll really sink in.”
Local Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty Mr Doherty said “the story emerging from Creeslough is a terrible one, it’s a dark story today.”
He added: “This explosion not only ripped the heart out of this building, but ripped the heart out of this community and left a huge amount of devastation.
Local GP Dr Paul Stewart arrived at the scene an hour after the explosion.
'HEARTBROKEN FAMILIES'
Describing what he witnessed, the GP said: “I grew up in Belfast during the Troubles and it was just like a bomb.
“There were blocks thrown a hundred yards away from the scene. The whole front of the building collapsed… and the roof of the first floor collapsed down into the shop.”
The doctor said the GP surgery is setting up a counselling service and is there for anyone who needs help, and added: “This is going to take months if not years to get on top of this.
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“There are going to be heartbroken families. We’re going to be dealing with this for years.”
Condolences for those caught up in the tragic accident flooded in as emergency services were praised for their heroic efforts.
President Higgins said: “This tragedy is a terrible blow to a community that is closely knit and where every loss and injury will be felt by every member of the community and far beyond.”
'TERRIBLE TRAGEDY'
He added: “All of our thoughts must go out to all of those who have been affected.
"Those who have received news of the loss of a loved one, those injured and, most of all, those who are waiting with anxiety for news of their loved ones.
“Special tribute must be paid to those members of the local community and emergency services across the island who have reacted so swiftly to the scene of the explosion and have continued to work through the night.”
Taoiseach Martin vowed that the Government will do everything in its power to assist the families of those who have lost loved ones.
He said: “Well in terms of essential services, the local authorities right through to health services, we will continue to back up those services and whatever is required will be provided.
“And then in terms of counselling services through childcare through education through family based counselling we will provide whatever services are identified by the community as being necessary.
'DARK DAY'
"That will help in terms of people being in a position of trying to cope with this in the days ahead.
“I will be ensuring that that happens across of all local and national services and that they will be available to help people get through this terrible time for them.”
The Fianna Fáil leader added: “The scale and enormity of it in such a small community means that almost everybody will know on a friendly basis obviously people who have lost their lives. Families who have been deeply affected by this.
“It is a terrible tragedy. It is a dark day for the people of Donegal.”
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar declared “the nation’s collective heart stopped” when the Donegal community was struck by “this unthinkable tragedy”.
The Fine Gael leader added that the effects of the horror blast “will be felt for many years” by those impacted.
'ONLY THE BEGINNING'
Commending those involved in the rescue efforts, Leo said: “When something like this happens it’s almost impossible to absorb the horror of it.
"If there is any consolation, we can find it in the way that the community has rallied and come together.
“The emergency services in Ireland and Northern Ireland have been heroic. Our hospitals are providing the best of care.
“This is only the beginning of the rescue. The effects will be felt for many years and we all have a role to play in providing whatever comfort we can.”
Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian echoed those sentiments and said the he was in “utter disbelief” upon hearing of the event which was “the darkest day in Donegal”.
He met and prayed with family members “who are in terrible shock and pain”, and called for people to “pray at Mass this weekend” for those caught up in the horror.
'DEEPLY SADDENED'
He said: “I am deeply saddened at the loss of life and at the extent of injuries caused.
“I have witnessed at first hand the immediate reaction of the local community to the tragedy who, in their bravery, took risks at the site to help others even to the detriment of their own safety.
“I wish to commend the first responders, and the emergency services of Donegal and Derry, for their high level of professional cooperation and rapid response.”
Fr Brian D’Arcy said tragic incidents such as this help us to remember how fragile life can be.
He said: “Life is random, whether we realise it or not. Days like this make us realise that life is random.
“Every single family in Ireland, at some stage, has a tragedy that reminds us that life doesn’t go on forever, that life is random, and that we all have to cope with the losses as well as with the joys.
EMERGENCY PLAN
“Both are part of life. Celebrate the joys and take time to sit with the sorrows, because that’s how we come to terms with it.”
He added: “Time does heal, but time doesn’t take the pain away.
“Time helps us to walk well with a limp, and many of us throughout life are walking well with a very big limp.”
A large number of people Injured in the blast were taken to Letterkenny University Hospital and Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.
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LUH launched an emergency plan in the aftermath of the explosion and were forced to discharge some patients on Friday to prepare for a rush of injured patients from the blast.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha has said local healthcare workers are “devastated for their community”, but added that the health services “pulled together” with off-duty staff volunteering to work.
