Couple who died in head-on collision named
Both in their early 60s, they are survived by six grown-up children, one of whom has been travelling in New Zealand. Another daughter works in Washington.
Two men in their early 20s, one from Askeaton and the other from Rathkeale, who were in another vehicle, were said to be in a critical but stable condition at the Mid-Western Regional hospital.
The couple were travelling in a VW Caddy van and the two men who survived the impact were in a Rav Jeep.
The accident happened about 5km from Askeaton on the Rathkeale road at about 5.50pm.
Mr Hartnett, who worked as a carpenter, was a former chairman of Knockaderry/Cloncagh community council and played a central role in the building of a new community centre in the parish.
Liam Mullane, chairman of the community council said: “This is a calamity for this small rural community. Moss was always calling to the community centre socially and to carry out ongoing voluntary work. He was only this week doing work on the stage and the floor. Their death is such a loss to the community, it is hard to believe. A big void has been left. All you’d had to say to Moss is “is there any chance you might do something?” and it was done with a smile. You could always depend on him.”
Mr Hartnett is believed to have travelled to Askeaton to carry out some work on a house and was returning home when the accident happened. Mr Mullane said three years ago it was decided to convert the old library adjacent to the community centre into the centre’s social area.
He said: “The plan required some very fine woodwork as it was like the precision of putting a jigsaw together. Moss and his son Micheal did all that work.”
Sergeant Vincent McCoy, of Askeaton Garda Station, said they would like to speak to anybody who may have been travelling on the Askeaton/Rathkeale Road between 5pm and 6pm on Wednesday.
They can be contacted at 061 601630.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
