A song in memory of one of the three children killed in the Creeslough disaster has been released to raise funds for three of the charities which helped in the days after the tragedy.
Ten people were killed when a suspected gas explosion ripped through an Applegreen shopping and apartment complex causing it to collapse on October 7 last year. Eight people were also injured.
A special commemoration service will be held at the scene this Saturday.
The parents of one Leona Harper (14) have teamed up with Donegal musician Matt McGranaghan to promote a new song in her memory. A keen rugby player with the Letterkenny club and a student at Mulroy College, Leona’s body was the last to be recovered from the wreckage.
In the days following her death, her parents Hugh and Donna paid tribute to the rescue teams who worked through the night to recover their daughter’s body.
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McGranaghan’s Stolen Dreams is built around a father singing to his daughter about his aspirations for her and about how everything can change.
A particularly poignant verse of the song contains a quotation from poet Sarah Williams which was found on a picture belonging to Leona and her mum.
The poem The Old Astronomer includes the words: “Though my soul has set in darkness, It will rise in perfect light: I have loved the stars too fondly, to be fearful of the night.”
Leona’s dad Hugh said the song – launched on social media and performed for the first time on Ulster Television News – would ensure his daughter’s memory lived on.
Mr Harper told Ulster Television News: “She meant everything to us. Every day is the same, not just the year anniversary. Not hearing her laugh; not seeing her smile. It’s hard.”
The family said they were sharing the song on social media to raise funds for SARDA Ireland North, K9 Search and Rescue and CRITICAL Emergency Medical Response which helped in the search operation after the gas explosion.
Saturday’s memorial service (3pm) will be followed by a memorial Mass at St Michael’s Creeslough on Saturday evening. However, Creeslough parish priest, Fr John Joe Duffy has asked that space be given to the grieving families, the injured and local people at the evening Mass (7.30pm).
The ten people who died were: Robert Garwe (50) and his daughter, Shauna Flanagan-Garwe (5), Jessica Gallagher (24), Martin McGill (49), Hugh Kelly (59), James O’Flaherty (48), Martina Martin (49), Catherine O’Donnell (39) and her son, James Monaghan (13) and Leona Harper (14).
The song can be heard at www.facebook.com/mattmcgranaghanmusic while donations can be made to the three groups at: https://www.idonate.ie/event/stolendreams-inlovingmemoryofleonaharper.
