School principals pay tribute to Clonmel car crash victims

“Zoey was everybody’s friend, everybody’s confidant,” Presentation School Principal Michael O’Loughlin said when describing a pupil whose life had been taken away on the night of her Leaving Certificate results celebration.

Zoey Coffey had plans to go on in life and become a primary school teacher.
“She was a born leader, an organiser, she would have been an excellent teacher,” said Michael O’Loughlin.
Zoey had made a huge impact on the Presentation community during her years in school.
She picked out the style of the distinctive hoodies the Class of 2023 were seen wearing at the Kickham Plaza vigil and as they laid flowers over the weekend at the crash site and in a line against the Loreto wall.
Zoey was described as a warm and vibrant young woman, a strong character liked by all.

HEARTBROKEN
Zoey is survived by her heartbroken parents Demelza and John and sisters Anna, Olivia and Clara, who is studying in Limerick IT.
“Her school was everything to her,” said Michael O’ Loughlin.

NICOLE MURPHY
Nicole Murphy, or Nikki as she was known to friends, was from Toor, Ballypatrick.
A thoughtful, appreciative young woman, on the day of her Leaving Cert results she sent a message to one of her teachers thanking her for the role she played in helping her get an A1 in the subject.
Loreto Principal Anne McGrath said everybody in the Loreto community were devastated by the news of the tragic death of

Nicole and the three other young people who perished in the accident on Friday night.
“We are mourning the loss of our Leaving Certificate student Nicole Murphy who lost her life in the tragic accident.
“We also remember two students Zoey Coffey and Grace McSweeney from our neighbouring school Presentation and Grace’s brother, Luke McSweeney,” said the school principal.
Hours before the crash Nicole received her Leaving Certificate results and was looking forward to celebrating when tragedy struck.

“Nicole achieved excellent Leaving Certificate results and was looking forward with excitement to starting the next phase of her life. The Leaving Cert celebrations are now replaced by unbearable grief and a sense of great loss for our local community. No words can express our sorrow, pain and grief,” said the school principal.
Anne McGrath described Nicole as a beautiful student, who was highly regarded by staff and students alike.
“During her time in Loreto, she developed into a young woman who was kind, gentle and witty and she was a trusted and loyal friend,” said the school principal.
Nicole was a daughter of Declan and Serena (née Manning).
She is also bereaved by her sister Zoe, her brother Ryan who is a pupil at Clonmel High School and grandparents Margaret and John (Manning) and Eileen (Murphy).

FUNERAL SERVICES
The remains of Nicole Murphy were reposing at her home at Toor, Ballypatrick on Wednesday from 4pm to 8pm.
Removal will take place on Thursday (today August 31), to St John the Baptist Church, Kilcash.
Funeral Mass will take place on arrival at 12 noon. Burial will take place afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

ZOEY COFFEY
Zoey Coffey will be reposing in O’Donoghue’s Funeral Home, Kickham Street, Clonmel on Friday September 1, from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.
Her funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, September 2 at 11.30am in Ss Peter & Paul’s Church, Clonmel followed by burial in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Clonmel.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, 19-year-old Enya Galligan said: “Zoey lit up every room she walked into. She was the life and the soul of the party. She was just like a mammy to us all. If we ever needed anything, go to her.
“We’ll never remember this as the day we got our results, we’ll remember the day we lost four amazing people in our community.”