Father/husband of mother and daughter who died in Cork accident was among first to help at scene

The death of a mother and daughter in a tragic car crash just three days before Christmas has numbed the north Cork areas of Kilworth and Fermoy.

Geraldine Clancy, 58, and her daughter Louise, 22, were killed in a two car accident outside Fermoy yesterday.

The Evening Echo report that the mum and daughter were members of a dairy farming family in the townland of Leitrim, outside Kilworth.

They had planned a shopping trip in Fermoy but tragedy struck on the Fermoy-Lismore Road, between Kilworth and Ballyduff.

Geraldine was married to dairy farmer, Noel Clancy, and the couple had three children. She had previously worked in the retail sector in Fermoy.

Noel was among the first on the scene after he arrived with his tractor to help after the accident, only to discover who the victims were when he arrived.

Louise, was a University College Cork student, studying English and Sociology. A past pupil of Loreto, Fermoy she was remembered today as friendly, kind, helpful and funny.

Louise was an aspiring journalist and a regular contributor to UCC’s student publications Motley Magazine and the UCC Express. She was also actively involved in societies namely Mythological Society where she had served as Events and Equipment Officer and Journalism Society of which she had been Webmaster.

Louise Clancy.

She had recently returned home to Kilworth from Brighton where she was spending an ERASMUS year. She had immersed herself in student life at the University of Sussex which she had been attending since September, recently beginning to volunteer as a presenter for UniTV, the university’s student television.

A statement from Loreto Secondary School Fermoy read: “Everyone in Loreto Secondary School Fermoy is shocked and saddened by the death of our past pupil Louise Clancy and her mother. Louise was a wonderful student who will be fondly remembered by staff and students. Our thoughts and prayers will be with her family and all affected by this accident in the difficult weeks and months ahead. May they rest in peace.”

Cllr Frank O’Flynn, a former neighbour of the family, said: “My heart is broken for them. As neighbours, we are devastated for them.”

“The community will rally around and support them in any way it can. They are in our prayers and thoughts.”

The accident occurred shortly after 11.30am yesterday when the car carrying the mum and daughter spun out of control after colliding with another vehicle, before ploughing through a ditch and into a stream.

Fermoy-based Cllr Noel McCarthy said: “The whole area is in shock. It’s an absolute tragedy for the family, particularly coming at this time of year.”

The female driver of the other car was not seriously injured but has been treated for shock.

Mother and daughter will lie in repose at Ronayne’s Funeral Home, Lr Patrick Street, Fermoy, tomorrow evening from 7pm with Rosary at 9pm.

A requiem Mass will take place in St Martin’s Church, Kilworth, on Saturday, St Stephen’s Day, at noon followed by a funeral in St Michael’s cemetery Ballyduff.