GoFundMe appeal set up to support family of Carrick-on-Suir woman killed in road accident

The people of Carrick-on-Suir are this week mourning the tragic death of a young pregnant mother from the town in a horrific traffic collision at Kilsheelan just two weeks before her first wedding anniversary.

The death of Claire Kavanagh, aged 33, in the two-vehicle collision on the N24 last Friday night has devastated her family, friends and all who knew her.

Donations have flooded into a GoFundMe fundraising campaign called “In Memory of Claire” set up to support Claire’s husband, Anthony, who was injured in the accident, and young son Arlo.

“We set this up to help Anthony and his son as Anthony’s injuries mean he will be out of work for some time,” Claire’s cousin Haleigh Walsh explains in the introduction to the GoFundMe campaign.

Ms Walsh wrote of how their “families’ world came tumbling down with the devastating loss of Claire".

Claire, who lived in Ballylynch, Carrick, was pregnant with her second child and was looking forward to a bright future with her family when her life was cruelly cut short.

The fatal accident happened on the Carrick-on-Suir side of Kilsheelan village at approximately 10pm on March 29 and was attended by gardaí and emergency services.

Claire, a passenger in one of the vehicles, was pronounced dead at the scene and was removed to Waterford University Hospital for a post mortem to be carried out.

Her husband, Anthony, who was the driver, was also brought to Waterford University Hospital for treatment for his injuries, which gardaí reported were non-life-threatening.

The driver and a passenger of the second car, both youths aged in their late teens, were also brought to Waterford University Hospital for treatment for injuries also believed to be non-life-threatening.

A female passenger of the second car, who was also aged in her late teens, was brought to Tipperary University Hospital for treatment for non-life threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.

The N24 remained closed until Saturday afternoon to allow Garda forensic collision investigators to examine the accident scene.

Cathaoirleach of Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District Cllr Kieran Bourke said Claire Kavanagh’s death was a huge tragedy and everyone in the town of Carrick was devastated.

The Carrick-on-Suir Fianna Fáil councillor said recalled Claire regularly visited his home as a child as she was friends with his daughter Lorraine.

“Claire was a lovely young woman. She was only married last year and didn’t even get to reach her first wedding anniversary.

“She was a wonderful mother to her little boy and she was a fantastic wife to Anthony. The couple were just stone cracked about each other.

“I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to her mother Denise, sister Clodagh, husband Anthony, son Arlo and extended family.”

There has been an outpouring of donations to the “In Memory of Claire” GoFundMe page since it was set up by Haleigh Walsh on Monday, on behalf of Claire’s mother Denise. Its aim is to raise funds to support Claire’s husband and young son in the wake of this tragedy.

Ms Walsh explained the heartbreaking circumstances for the setting up of the fundraising campaign in the introduction to the GoFundMe Page.

She wrote that on March 29 their “families’ world came tumbling down with the devastating loss of Claire”.

She highlighted how Claire died just two weeks away from her first wedding anniversary and while 13 weeks pregnant with her second baby.

Ms Walsh pointed out that Claire died while she and her husband had been bringing their 18 month old baby for a spin to get him to sleep.

“On their way home, Claire became the 56th person to lose their life on Irish roads this year.

“She had so much to live for and was taken from her family too soon.

“We set this up (the GoFundMe) to help Anthony and his son, as Anthony’s injuries mean he will be out of work some time.

“We as a family want to thank everyone for their kind words and helpful actions at this devastating time in our lives,” Ms Walsh concluded.

Claire is the second Carrick-on-Suir person to die in a road accident on the N24 near Kilsheelan in the past six months.

Last October, father-of-two Peter Mulcahy from Woodland Heights, Carrickbeg died tragically in a two vehicle collision on the N24 at Ballydine.

Garda appeal

Gardaí, meanwhile, have appealed to anyone who witnessed last Friday night’s fatal collision to assist them with their investigation into the accident.

They have urged road users with camera footage (including dash-cam) who travelled in the area of the N24 at Kilsheelan, Co. Tipperary last Friday between 9.30pm and 10.10pm to make this footage available to Gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Clonmel Garda Station on 052 617 7640, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.