PARISHIONERS are to fund raise for the victims of a horrific blaze at a travellers' site in south Dublin that claimed the lives of 10 people.
Members of two families are believed to be among the dead after the fire broke out at a halting site in Carrickmines at about 4am on Saturday.
The victims have been named locally as couple Tara Gilbert and Willie Lynch, and their young children Jodie (8) and four-year-old Kelsey. It is understood Ms Gilbert was also several months pregnant.
The other family was Thomas (28) and Sylvia Connors (25) and their children Jim, Christy and six-month-old Mary.
Another son, five-year-old Michael, was said to have escaped the blaze because he was staying with his grandparents nearby.
Jimmy Lynch (39), thought to be a brother of Willie Lynch, was named locally as the tenth victim.
Two adults and a child injured in the blaze remained in hospital yesterday.
A traveller support group has said the fire is being treated as a tragic accident.
It is understood Tara Gilbert and her family, from Bray in Co Wicklow, were staying with the Connors on a family visit when flames tore through a portakabin and spread to a second home.
Neighbours said the Connors had been living at the site off the Glenamuck Road, just south of the M50 motorway, for almost eight years.
Fr Andrew O'Sullivan, parish priest from neighbouring St Patrick's Church Glencullen led a solemn Sunday Mass in the hills surrounding the city.
"It is a time of sadness and great loss for them. People are very much aware of the fragility of life and how these terrible tragedies can happen without any warning or notice."
He told parishioners: "We ask that people wanting to express their solidarity with the community, we have spoken to St Vincent's De Paul and if people wish to give in some way they may do so."
More details are due to be announced by the Catholic anti-poverty charity soon.
Books of condolence were opened in four locations in the Carrickmines area yesterday.
A minute of silence was also observed for the Carrickmines victims and for the victims of the bomb attacks in Turkey yesterday before the Euro 2016 qualifying match between Poland and the Republic of Ireland in Warsaw.
The halting site accommodated up to half a dozen caravans and one or two permanent residential structures.
Floral tributes and messages were laid near the gates of the scene over the weekend as members of the local community paid their respects.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny also visited the scene yesterday afternoon. He said flags would fly at half-mast on government and public buildings on the days that the funerals take place.
The site remained sealed off yesterday while investigations continued into how the fire started.
Fr O'Sullivan said they prayed for all the dead and injured during Sunday services throughout the parish.
"We are just remembering them in our thoughts and prayers and on a more practical level the local community are offering their support in every way they can.
"We are going to work with St Vincent De Paul to see what we can do on a slightly bigger scale to help those who have been left behind by this."
The alarm was raised at 4.24am with six units of the Dublin Fire Brigade on the scene and a number of paramedics and ambulances.
A member of the Dublin Fire Service said that it appeared the fire broke out in a prefab in the halting site and quickly spread to surrounding units.
Gardaí are investigating the cause of the blaze but it is not being treated as suspicious based on early indications.
It is understood the scene was difficult to examine due to the extensive damage caused by the blaze.
Forensic examinations were continuing late into Saturday evening with assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster at the site leading the technical analysis.
President Michael D Higgins described the blaze as "a most dreadful tragedy".
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin expressed his sympathy to the families affected. He asked for the victims and their families be remembered at all Masses in the Archdiocese at the weekend.
The Southside Travellers Action Group centre in nearby Sandyford has provided support for those affected.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has also been organising alternative accommodation for people left homeless by the fire.
