The boy and a man in his late 40s were travelling in a car when the collision occurred at a user-operated level crossing at Kiltybo, near Ballyhaunis, in Co Mayo, shortly before 9pm. Picture: Leon Farrell/©RollingNews.ie
A 12-year-old boy was returning from GAA training with his father when the car they were travelling in was struck by a train at a level crossing in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, on Thursday evening.
The boy’s father had just dropped another boy home from training before the collision at Kiltybo level crossing, shortly after 8.45pm.
The 12-year-old, who was local to the area and had been training with St Jarlath’s GAA club, was pronounced dead at the scene.
His father, who is in his late 40s, remains in hospital today with injuries that are not life-threatening.
The boy’s death has sent shockwaves through the Ballyhaunis community, with his family widely respected in the area and well known in GAA circles.
Locals have been coming to St Patrick’s Parish Church in Ballyhaunis today to light candles and mourn the boy, as the community rallies around his family.
Parish priest Father Stephen Farragher said the local community was in shock but was pulling together to support the family at this tragic time.
"There were a lot of extra people at mass today," Fr Farragher said.
"And you could just see, particularly on mothers' and grandmothers' faces, that look of sadness. Because this is every parent's nightmare.
"But the family will be carried along by the community, by people who are praying for them, and by the GAA.
"Even people who don't have much faith find themselves gravitating towards the church at a time like this just simply to light a candle, maybe, and say a prayer.
"People can feel helpless. But when they come together, even just to chat to each other, that's therapeutic as well, just being able to talk. And that's the way you come to terms with a terrible tragedy such as this."
The boy had celebrated the Sam Maguire Cup being brought to Ballyhaunis last week with his family following Mayo’s historic All-Ireland Senior Football Championship victory.
Gardaí are appealing for information following the fatal collision between the train and car.
