Girl, 13, dies in road accident

A SCHOOLGIRL killed in a road accident yesterday played for her county in a packed Croke Park on All-Ireland Football final day, it emerged last night.

Máire Hourigan, 13, who was struck by a car on her way to get a bus to school, was a member of the Limerick Primary Schools Team that took part in a half time game during the Kerry-Tyrone All-Ireland final.

The accident happened near Ballyneety on the outskirts of the city. Máire was crossing a road around 8am to get a bus to Laurel Hill secondary school in Limerick city. She had only left the family home at Carrigmartin, near the Cats Cradle public house when the accident happened.

She was the daughter of Liam and Helen Hourigan who have two other children, Elaine and Brian.

The family are well known in the area and the dead girl’s uncle, Pat Keane, owns the Cats Cradle pub.

Another relative is Mark Keane, a former Limerick hurler.

Parish priest Fr Oliver Plunkett said: “Everybody is totally distraught and this is a terrible tragedy for the family. Everybody is so shocked.”

Máire had attended the local Knockea national school, where her mother is secretary, before moving to Laurel Hill.

Seamus O’Riordan, who ran the local post office up to recently, said: “All the children are devastated and they are a very well known local family. Máire’s grandmother, Molly had the Cats Cradle and her son Pat runs it. Máire loved soccer and football and played with South Liberties.”

Gardaí at Roxboro Garda Station are investigating the accident and seeking witnesses in the area at the time.