Town numbed by young friends' crash death

Two young friends were killed when their car crashed in to a wall and burst in to flames in the second double tragedy to hit a rural town.

Timothy Reidy and Peter Galwey, from the close-knit community of Castleisland in Co Kerry, died instantly in the tragic accident.

The is the second time two friends from the town were killed in a road crash in as many years.

Local councillor Bobby O’Connell said 19-year-old Tim and Peter, 21, were nice, quiet, unassuming guys.

“It’s a terrible tragedy,” said Mr O’Connell.

“You would hardly ever see them out, they just hung around with their friends.

“The whole area is in shock. They are both from very well known and popular families who are hard working community people.

“It’s not that long since we had another double tragedy. The town was just starting to recover from it when this happened.”

In April 2007 friends Fred Ryan, 31, and John ’Pa’ O’Reilly, 27, died in a head-on collision just outside their home town on the main Killarney to Limerick road. A teenager was also killed in the crash.

The latest accident happened on the main Tralee Road, around 4km outside Killarney shortly before 12.30am. The road was closed immediately.

It is understood the pair may have been travelling home from the Puck Fair at the time.

Crash investigators spent the day examining the scene and the car to try and establish what exactly happened.

Although dental records will have to be used to formally identify the remains of the men, it is understood a bank card found at the scene had Tim’s name and led gardai to his home address.

His devastated parents, Con and Margaret Reidy of Kilcow, Castleisland, confirmed he was driver of the 94 KY registered silver coloured Vauxhall Cavalier.

It then emerged his friend Peter, son of Peter and Breda Galwey from Fahaduff, Castleisland, had not made it home either.

Their parents and siblings were being comforted by family and friends.

Father Michael Moynihan, parish curate, said anybody would have been proud to have the two victims as their sons, and their families were well regarded and respected.

“The community both locally and beyond is both shocked and numbed by the deaths of two young men, Peter Galwey and Tim Reidy,” said Fr Moynihan, of St Stephen and John’s Church.

“We feel very sad because two young lives with much promise and potential have been taken from us so unrepentantly.

“This is a very dark and sad time for their families, their colleagues and their friends.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.”