Leona Harper
Talented young rugby player Leona Harper had stopped at the petrol station on Friday to get an ice-cream with a friend.
The 14-year-old, who played for Letterkenny Rugby Club, had been looking forward to a sleepover at a friend's house that night.
After finishing a week of school, the two pals went to the garage to get some treats.
Leona, who was a keen Liverpool fan, was found at the ice cream fridge after the blast while her friend, who had been blown out of the shop on to the doorstep, was found in the rubble with a broken leg.
Her father, Hugh Harper said it had been "nothing short of hell".
"Knowing that we have the support of the (rugby) club and its members offers us huge support, thank you," he said.
"Leona loved rugby although this year she was taking time out for boxing. But her first love was Letterkenny Rugby Club".
In a statement, the club said it had been left "heartbroken" by the loss.
"There are no words that feel strong enough at a moment of deep sorrow such as this".
Mr Harper told Co Donegal radio station Highland Radio: “Leona was a little gem, very outgoing, very friendly, a lovely person, very quiet, laid-back, loved life, loved the outdoors, walking through fields, going fishing, spending time with friends, going to car shows.”
Mr Harper added: “She was very special, very, very special. She’s going to be very sorely missed.”
Leona’s mother Donna thanked the digger driver who found her body after a 24-hour search.
“I didn’t personally know the digger driver – a massive thank you to him because he just didn’t stop until he got her,” she said.
“Twenty-four hours before we got her and she was the last taken out. The doctors and everything, everybody was amazing the way they treated the whole scene from start to finish with nothing more than respect.”
Jessica Gallagher
Jessica Gallagher had only recently moved to Belfast to start a new position as a fashion designer. She had returned from the city and was staying in her boyfriend's apartment when the explosion happened.
She graduated with an honours degree in fashion design and marketing from the International Fashion Academy in Paris.
She went to France in 2018 shortly after leaving Loreto Convent in Letterkenny. The 24-year-old also spent time studying at the Fashion Design College in Shanghai before returning home.
Prior to moving to Belfast, she lived at the family home at Killoughcarran, Creeslough and is survived by her parents and two sisters.
She was with Conor McFadden at his apartment above the shop. Mr McFadden was critically injured and is being treated in the burns unit of St James' Hospital in Dublin after being airlifted following the blast.
The aunt of Creeslough explosion victim Jessica Gallagher, 24, has spoken of the young fashion designer’s pride and love for the village.
Dolores Gallagher said her niece was due to start a new job in Belfast on Monday.
“On behalf of the entire family, we wanted to thank very much the neighbours in the locality in Creeslough who have been unbelievably kind and generous with their offers of help and the tactful way that everyone has been so supportive, including those other poor people who have been bereaved or have injured family members and loved ones and still managed to find the courage and strength to make contact to offer condolences,” she told Highland Radio.
“So, on behalf of the entire family, I’d like to thank everyone for that.
“Jessica was, as the photograph shows, the most beautiful young woman. She was very artistic, she qualified as a fashion designer. She was to start finally her job as a fashion designer today.
“Today was the day she was starting her new professional life as a fashion designer in Belfast and she had just finished her first commission.
“She was so proud of and loved her locality, she loved Creeslough so much. And when she was a student in Paris, one of her assignments was to work on something from home and she produced a beautiful picture of Muckish (Co Donegal mountain) in the moonlight.
“We took her remains home yesterday in the moonlight.”
Ms Gallagher’s funeral will take place at St Michael’s Church in Creeslough at 11am tomorrow.
James O'Flaherty
James O'Flaherty, of Rinclevan in Dunfanaghy, was an engineering director originally from Sydney in Australia.
The 48-year-old father of one moved to Ireland in 2018 but worked around the world on projects for the US-based Jabil company.
Mr O'Flaherty, pre-deceased by parents Brenda and Stella, was married to Tracey (nee O'Donnell) and had a son Hamish, according to a death notice published on Sunday.
Funeral Mass will take place at St Mary's Church, Derrybeg, on Wednesday at 11am, with interment afterwards in Magheragallon Cemetery.
This afternoon, nurses from Letterkenny hospital lined the road as the remains of Mr O’Flaherty was taken from a chapel in the town.
Mr O’Flaherty’s coffin was removed from the Eternal Light Chapel of Rest in Letterkenny to be taken to a funeral home in Derrybeg ahead of his funeral.
His wife Tracey is a nurse in the hospital and her colleagues lined the road outside the chapel today as the hearse drove past.
Catherine O'Donnell and James Monaghan
Catherine O Donnell (39) lost her life along with her teenage son, 13-year-old James Monaghan, a student at Mulroy College in Milford. Leona Harper was also a student at the school.
The school and Donegal ETB said management and parents are in "deep shock after the tragic events".
"It is with deepest regret that we advise that two of our students, James Monaghan and Leona Harper, and two mothers of students enrolled in our school, Catherine O Donnell and Martina Martin, were among the fatalities," the statement read.
"There were also a number of our students who incurred injuries at the scene."
Mulroy College Principal Fiona Temple said the school community "are devastated on hearing of the tragedy and the fatal outcome for our two beautiful students and our cherished parents".
"We are numbed by this overwhelming sadness and will work together to support all members of our school community in the coming days, weeks and months ahead.
"Our priority, as a school management and staff, is the wellbeing and welfare of the students and their families at this tragic time. We extend our best wishes to all those who suffered injuries including some of our students.”
Mulroy College was open on Sunday for a period to enable students, parents and staff to visit and support one another. The school will open as normal on Monday and numerous supports will be available for students, staff and parents.
Psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service and Donegal ETB have offered advice and guidance.
The club yesterday opened it clubhouse "to allow people to come and pay their respects and reflect on the events that have affected our community and so many families in such a tragic way".
Leona's brother, Anthony also posted on Facebook to say: "I don't know where to begin, Leona I couldn't (have) asked for a better little sister. You would go mad for me putting this up of you now because it's an old picture of you. Leona I love you so much and we all love you so much xx".
The keen sportswoman attended Mulroy College, which was also attended by another victim, James Monaghan.
In a tweet, Liverpool Football Club said: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Leona. Our thoughts are with her family and friends, as well as all those affected by Friday's tragedy".
Former Liverpool star Stan Collymore added: "Some of the warmest and genuine people I've met were from Letterkenny, Buncrana and Inch in Donegal on one of many wonderful trips to a special part of the world. Sending much love to everyone in Creeslough, You'll Never Walk Alone".
Hugh Kelly
Hugh Kelly died in the tragedy despite not being inside Applegreen Service Station at the time.
The 59-year-old, who was known locally as Hughie, had given a father and daughter a lift to the garage.
Robert Garwe
Zambian man Robert Garwe (50) and his five-year-old daughter, Shauna Flanagan Garwe, had gone into the shop so the little girl could buy her mother a birthday cake.
Mr Kelly, who was from the Doe Point area, just a couple of kilometres away, was waiting outside the shop for the pair when the explosion took place.
Posting on Facebook, a friend described Mr Kelly, who worked in construction, as a "civil man" with another adding "an absolute gentlemen".
Shauna Flanagan Garwe
The youngest victim of the tragedy, five-year-old Shauna Flanagan Garwe started school at Scoil Mhuire in Creeslough just weeks ago.
It was revealed that Shauna had gone into the Applegreen store along with her dad, Robert Garwe (50) to buy a birthday cake for her mum, Aine Flanagan. Her dad was also killed in the explosion. Her first-day-at-school picture was the one released by Gardaí yesterday.
Martin McGill
Martin McGill, who was originally from Scotland, was known as `Scotch Martin'.
A keen Celtic fan, it was said the 49-year-old would be in the shop on a daily basis.
It was reported that Mr McGill was a cousin of the wife of former Donegal football team manager Jim McGuinness.
Mr McGill is understood had moved to Ireland to help care for his elderly mother.
Posting on Facebook, referring to Mr McGill, a cousin wrote: "A lovelier guy you couldn't meet. Reunited with your Dad Joe".
Another post read: "Rip Martin, you're in a different Paradise today. Sincere condolences to all the family from everyone at Letterkenny No1 Celtic supporters club & the Donegal Association of Celtic supporters clubs".
Mr Magill’s funeral will take place at St Michael’s Church in Creeslough at 2pm tomorrow.
Martina Martin
Martina Martin (nee Russell), who was also known as Tina, was last night described as someone who was a "ray of sunshine".
The 49-year-old, who worked in the petrol station shop, was a mother-of-four.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Mrs Martin's cousin, Jason Black, who was in the shop at the time of the blast, told how he searched for her.
The high altitude mountaineer said he was blown back by the force of the blast and found himself lying amongst concrete and rubble.
The 51-year-old managed to help a seriously injured man, who was pinned by part of the collapsed building, stay with another man until the end and pull a young child from the rubble, who was badly cut but alive.
He then went in search of his cousin.
Tributes on Facebook described Martina as a "lovely lady" who "always had the chat" when customers came in.
Another added: "Rest in peace Martina, you were always up for a chat and a laugh
Another tribute read: "Tina you were a Ray of sunshine and so kind and always a smile on your face. You will be missed forever. Rest in peace".
Posting on Facebook, Olympian AC wrote: "The club would like to offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Faul family who have been affected by the recent events at Cresslough.
"Sadly Martina (nee Russell) Martin tragically lost her life who was the sister of club member Amanda Faul, sister in law of club coach Bryan Faul & auntie to Lara, Orlagh, Roisin and Conor.
"Thoughts are with all those effected at this difficult time and to the town of Cresslough."
