A TEENAGER killed in a road crash in Co Armagh was a former world champion drum major who was described as "fast-rising star in the pipe band world".
Tributes have been paid to Rachel Lowry (17) from Markethill who died in a single-vehicle collision close to her home village on Thursday.
A member of Armaghbreague Pipe Band, she had won numerous drum major competitions, including the junior world champion title in 2017.
Friends and members of the pipe band community have paid tribute to Ms Lowry describing her as "kind hearted" and "beautiful".
The teenager died following a collision involving a blue Ford Fiesta on the Coolmillish Road - the main route from Armagh to Keady - around 1pm.
The road was closed in both directions while two ambulance crews and a rapid response paramedic arrived. The NI Air Ambulance also landed at the scene.
She was last night described her as a "talented drum major" and "inspiration to those who looked up to her".
A tribute on the Pipes and Drums website said: "Rachel Lowry, the 2017 Junior World Champion Drum-Major and 2019 runner-up in the World Championship Juvenile grade, died in a single vehicle crash in the Markethill area of Armagh.
"Age 17, she was a member of the Armaghbreague Pipe Band of Armagh, and was a fast-rising star in the pipe band world.
"Our sympathies go to Rachel Lowry’s family, the members of Armaghbreague, and her many friends at this sad time."
Quinn Memorial Pipe Band also posted online that "Rachel will always be fondly remembered", while Cleland Memorial Pipe Band said they were "very sad to hear of the sudden and heartbreaking passing of drum major Rachel Lowry".
Killeen Pipe Band also wrote: "It is with great sadness that we learned yesterday of the tragic death of Rachel Lowry, a drum major with Armaghbreague Pipe Band.
"Rachel was a very well-known and talented drum major, frequently in the prizes and also achieving the junior drum major world champion title in 2017."
Friends have also written of their devastation, describing her as the "most kind hearted, most beautiful girl I knew, inside and out, and you will be so badly missed".
Another said she was "such a beautiful young lady, taken far too soon".
Meanwhile, a road outside Carrickfergus was closed following a two-vehicle crash yesterday morning.
Photos from the scene show a car was in collision with a bin lorry on Beltoy Road.
The crash happened at around 9am.
A man was taken to hospital, although his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
