Cavan remembers carrickmines fire victims

Members of both the Traveller and settled communities of Cavan came together this afternoon in a moment of poignant solidarity to remember the lives those who died tragically in a fire at a halting site in Carrickmines, south county Dublin at the weekend.

Ten people lost their lives in the fire, including a pregnant mother and five children.

A Book of Condolence has been opened at the Cavan Town Cathedral, and will remain open for the rest of the week.

This afternoon, up to 100 people gathered for a prayer service and vigil, during which red balloons were released.

Organiser, Geraldine Mongan told The Anglo-Celt she was “overwhelmed” by the turnout.

The fire on Glenamuck Road, in Carrickmines, was the largest in loss of life by fire in Ireland since 48 lives were claimed at the Stardust nightclub fire in 1981. All the victims were from the Lynch and Connors families.

Among the victims were Willie Lynch and Tara Gilbert, both in their 20s, and their children Jodie (8) and Kelsey (4). Tara had only recently announced she was expecting a third child. Thomas and Sylvia Connors also died alongside their children Jim, Christy and Mary. The final victim was named as Jimmy Lynch, aged in his late 30s. He was a brother of Willie and Sylvia.

However, there remains a sense of hurt amid the sorrow, with Chairman of the Cavan Traveller Movement Thomas Maughan telling The Anglo-Celt that members of the travelling community feel “disgusted” by objections of residents of a Carrickmines estate who have objected to the families of those who survived the fire-safety at the weekend, housed near them.

“We are all human at the end of the day. Our thoughts are with the families of those who died. It has been a difficult week, what with this happening, and the death of the garda (Garda Anthony Golden) in Louth as well. We are all human, and at this time we need to stand together,” he said