Irish groups in the US send support after Creeslough tragedy

Irish and Irish Americans in the US are sending their support to Creeslough, Co Donegal in the wake of the village's fatal tragedy.

In Philadelphia, the Donegal Association has so far raised $10,300 for the Creeslough Community Fund - $5,300 was raised during the association's Mass for Creeslough which was held on Sunday, October 16, and afterward, the association said it would contribute another $5,000.

The Donegal Association of Philadelphia said on October 19 that it is still collecting funds for Creeslough via PayPal.

“Although in Philadephia, our prayers and hearts are with the families and friends who are affected by this tragedy," a spokesperson for the Donegal Association of Philadelphia told Donegal Daily.

Elsewhere, The Donegal Association of New York said it would be offering financial assistance via proceeds from its annual dinner dance which was held on Sunday, October 15.

In the Irish enclave of Woodlawn in The Bronx,  Irish American priest Fr Brendan said Mass for the Creeslough victims on Sunday, October 9.

St. Barnabas Church will also be hosting a vigil and prayer service at the Aisling Irish Center on McLean Avenue in Yonkers at 5:30 pm on Thursday, November 3, followed by Mass at the Church at 7 pm.

On Sunday, October 16, people gathered in New York City’s Central Park for a memorial walk organized by Creeslough native Aoife Cannon. A GoFundMe was set up in association with the memorial walk and has so far raised more than $8,200, far surpassing its $2,000 goal.

In Boston, an Irish Community Mass for the victims of the Donegal tragedy in solidarity with the people of Creeslough was held at St. Brendan’s Church in Dorchester on Sunday, October 9.

The US support comes in conjunction to The Creeslough Community Support Fund in Ireland, which was launched by An Post and Applegreen and is being managed by the Irish Red Cross. That fund has reportedly raised more than €1.2 million so far.

Ten people were killed as a result of the explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal on Friday, October 7: James O Flaherty, 48; Jessica Gallagher, 24; Martin McGill, 49; Catherine O Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13; Hugh Kelly, 59; Martina Martin, 49; Robert Garwe, 50, and his daughter, Shauna Flanagan Garwe, 5; and Leona Harper, 14.

Investigations into the cause of the fatal blast are continuing.