Parish in mourning following Communion tragedy

A Co. Waterford parish is in mourning following the tragic death of an 8-year-old schoolgirl at the weekend.

Amy Byrne died after striking her head while playing on a bouncy castle after making her First Holy Communion in Coolnasmear near Dungarvan on Saturday evening.

Emergency services treated the little girl at the scene and she was rushed to Waterford Regional hospital where she died later on Saturday night.

A Garda investigation was launched but officers confirmed they were treating it as a tragic accident.

Nobody else was injured in the incident.

Amy’s parents, Paul and Lorraine, were due to bring her body back to the family home last night and her funeral is expected to take place tomorrow, the Irish Examiner reported.

It is understood that Mr Byrne, a local farmer, and his wife who works in the nearby GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plant in Dungarvan, had bought their daughter the bouncy castle recently for the celebration.

The little girl was among 15 children who made their communion at St Gobnait’s Church in Kilgobinet.