Ireland

Funerals to take place in Co Donegal for two young women killed in road accidents

Clarice Rice (25) will be buried following Requiem Mass in Co Donegal today
Clarice Rice (25) will be buried following Requiem Mass in Co Donegal today Clarice Rice (25) will be buried following Requiem Mass in Co Donegal today

THE funerals of two young Co Donegal women who died in road accidents on opposite side of the world will take place today and tomorrow.

Clarice Rice (25), of Claggan, Portsalon, died when the car she was driving crashed in the area last Friday.

A male passenger in the single-vehicle collision was treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Ms Rice’s funeral will take place from her home to St Columba’s Church, Massmount for Requiem Mass at 11am this morning, with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Meanwhile, the remains of Mary Ellen Molloy are expected to arrive back at her family home in Ardara today.

Miss Molloy (26), a niece of Fianna Fáil councillor Anthony Molloy who captained Donegal to their first ever All Ireland senior football title in 1992, died in a freak accident in Australia where she had been working as a nurse.

A branch of a tree fell onto the taxi in which she was a back-seat passenger on December 20.

A keen GAA player, she played with St Kevin’s ladies’ GAA club in Melbourne.

The remains of Mary Ellen Molloy (26) were due to arrive back at her family home in Ardara from Australia early this morning
The remains of Mary Ellen Molloy (26) were due to arrive back at her family home in Ardara from Australia early this morning The remains of Mary Ellen Molloy (26) were due to arrive back at her family home in Ardara from Australia early this morning

Plans were put in place yesterday for a candle-lit vigil to greet the return of her remains in the early hours of this morning.

Ms Molloy’s funeral will take place from her family home at Edergole, Ardara for Requiem Mass at the Church of the Holy Family at noon tomorrow, with burial in the adjoining cemetery.

This week’s funerals follow the death in a road accident of father-of-two Shaun Kelly (33) early on St Stephen's Day.

Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Baithin’s Church, St Johnston on Sunday.

Seven people were killed on Co Donegal roads during 2019.

Shaun Kelly (33) died in hospital following a road crash early on Boxing Day morning.
Shaun Kelly (33) died in hospital following a road crash early on Boxing Day morning. Shaun Kelly (33) died in hospital following a road crash early on Boxing Day morning.