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Twelve-year-old Eoin Doyle died after the car he was travelling in with his father was struck by a Dublin to Westport train at a user-operated crossing near Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, sending shock through a community still celebrating Mayo's recent All-Ireland football success.
A 12-year-old boy named Eoin Doyle has died following a collision between a train and a car at a user-operated level crossing in Kiltybo near Ballyhaunis, County Mayo.
The incident occurred shortly before 9pm on Thursday evening when the Heuston Station to Westport train service struck the car. Eoin was travelling with his father Declan Doyle, who was returning home with him from Gaelic football training with St Jarlath's, an amalgamated underage team combining players from Bekan and Ballyhaunis. Declan Doyle, a GAA trainer and member of the Mayo masters football team, was treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Eoin, who was in sixth class at Cloonfad National School in County Roscommon, was pronounced dead at the scene. An Garda Síochána confirmed that all passengers on the train safely disembarked and that onward transport arrangements were made for them. The Ballyhaunis community has been left in a state of profound sadness following the tragedy, which came shortly after the town had been celebrating Mayo's long-awaited All-Ireland senior football championship success on July 26th.
Fr Stephen Farragher of St Patrick's Church in Ballyhaunis noted a marked increase in the number of people attending Mass on Friday morning, describing the atmosphere as sombre. He explained that during times of tragedy, people often gravitate towards the church to light a candle regardless of their personal faith, as a way of coping with helplessness. The Doyle family, from the nearby townland of Guane, are deeply involved in the Ballyhaunis GAA Club and the local farming community.
Eoin's mother Elaine is a nurse, and Eoin had a twin sister named Saoirse along with a stepbrother Conor and grandparents on both sides of the family. A local woman named Gallagher, a friend of the Doyle family from Ballyhaunis, drew comparisons with another devastating road tragedy from September 2024, when two teenagers aged 13 and 19 lost their lives in a collision in Cloonfad.
She observed that tragedy had united the Ballyhaunis and Cloonfad communities before, and once again bad news had arrived at their doorsteps. Ballyhaunis GAA Club issued a tribute remembering Eoin as a talented young footballer and a wonderful young boy who was a great friend and team-mate within the club. The club extended its thoughts and prayers to his parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and all those who knew and loved him.
Eoin's funeral Mass was scheduled to take place at 12pm on Tuesday at St Patrick's Church in Cloonfad. Irish Rail chief executive Mary Considine expressed the company's deepest sympathies to the family and confirmed that a full investigation into the incident was under way. Rail services between Westport and Athlone were suspended for much of Friday before resuming after 4pm, as emergency services, gardaí and Irish Rail staff responded to the scene with professionalism and care
Eoin Doyle Ballyhaunis Mayo GAA Level Crossing Irish Rail
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