FAMILY and friends of four young men who lost their lives in a devastating road crash in Co Donegal will gather together tomorrow for their funerals.
The four friends have been remembered as a "real influence among their peers, club mates and wide circle of friends" following their deaths on Sunday.
John Harley (24) and Shaun Harkin (22), both from Falcarragh, Mícheál Roarty (24) from Dunlewey, and Daniel Scott, who was 23 and from Gortahork, all died at the scene of the crash near Magheraroarty.
The four men, who were childhood friends, had been travelling in a Toyota Corolla hatchback when it crashed. It is understood they had met up ahead of Mr Scott leaving to start a new job in Denmark next week.
All four were heavily involved in their local communities, which are struggling to deal with the aftermath of the tragedy.
The Republic's Health Service Executive said it would be offering specialist counselling to the bereaved families and "liaising with the local community" to help "meet the emotional and psychological needs of those impacted".
Tributes continued to be paid to the four men, with Donegal Soccer describing how the news that "four fine young men had lost their lives in a tragic accident came like a dagger through the heart".
"The numbness that is being felt today across the county and beyond at the tragedy that has taken Micheál, John, Daniel and Shaun way too soon shows the depth as to how the boys short lives had a real influence among their peers, club mates and wide circle of friends," it said.
Cloughaneely GAA shared individual tributes to the men, describing the club's "sense of loss and devastation".
It said Mr Harley, who had captained Cloughaneely seniors in 2016-17 and various teams at underage level, was a "natural born leader and massively respected and loved by all both on and off the pitch".
"His charming presence and sense of humour around the clubhouse and pitch will be sadly missed by us all," it said.
The club said Mr Scott was a "valued member of the club playing at all underage levels right up to senior".
"Daniel was dedicated to his work in the construction industry, a job which carried him to many places around the globe, with Denmark being his most recent placement."
A tribute to Mr Harkin described him as a "valued member of the Cloughaneely community" who was "very supportive of his many friends" at the club and was often seen driving them to training.
It described Mr Roarty, who represented Donegal at minor level and was an All-Ireland vocational schools winner, as a "friend and comrade to many of our club players".
Separate funeral services for all four men will be held tomorrow.
Shaun Harkin's funeral will take place in Christ the King Church, Gortahork, at 10am ahead of funeral Mass for Mr Roarty at Sacred Heart Church, Dunlewey, at 11.30am.
Requiem Mass for Mr Harley will take place at St Finian’s Church, Falcarragh at 1pm before Mr Scott's funeral mass in Christ the King Church, Gortahork, at 2.30pm.
