‘Always smiling, always so bubbly’

TARA WHELAN should have been going back to her part-time job today.

Next month, the bubbly 17-year-old should have been celebrating her Leaving Certificate results.

The Waterford girl should have had her whole life to look forward to.

But on the last day of her sun holiday with her friends in Turkey, her bright young life ended.

Before leaving the popular resort of Kusadasi last Saturday, Tara decided to soak up the sun one last time.

Tracey Galgey, one of two friends on holiday with Tara, was going to join her, but at the last minute she decided to do some shopping.

Tara got on the local mini-bus to travel the short distance to what is known as Ladies Beach.

Just before 11am local time, a bomb ripped the bus apart, blasting the roof off.

Tara, along with a British woman, and three Turks, was killed instantly and at least 13 people were injured.

Back home in Co Waterford, the small parish of Kilmeaden and Ballyduff was mourning the sudden death of local youth, Derek Ryan, who died in a road accident.

Tara’s dad, Tony, who is retired from Glanbia, and her mother, Frances, were doing what they could to help Derek’s parents.

They live only half a mile from each other, or as one local in the close-knit rural community put it, “three fields away”.

Mr Whelan helped direct traffic in and out of Ballyduff Church for Derek’s funeral last Friday, while his wife served teas to mourners.

Little were they to know that a day later their youngest child would be dead and that they would soon be back in Ballyduff Church for her funeral. Tara’s body is being flown into Cork Airport tonight.

Friends of the family said her parents, and Tara’s brothers and sisters, were “terribly distressed” at the family home yesterday.

Neighbours and relatives offered whatever support and sympathy they could.

Meanwhile, tributes poured in for Tara.

“She was always smiling, always so bubbly. Everyone called her pet,” said Deirdre Dunphy, owner of The Sweep bar at Kilmeaden, where Tara and Tracey worked for the last three years.

Ms Dunphy said Tara, as well as Tracey, was due to return to work today.

“She’s been with us three years. We’re like a family here. There’s a gloom here because we have lost someone special.

“She was a daughter anyone would have loved to have. She was a great girl for 17 years of age, a great future ahead of her.”

She said Tracey, whose twin sister Lyndsey was also on the holiday, had called into the bar yesterday. “She’s so upset she couldn’t even cry. She’s numbed to it all.”

Local councillor and family friend Patrick Leahy said Tara was extremely popular.

“She had an amazing personality, a beautiful personality. She was a popular person. All her family are the same. The family are involved in all aspects of life in Ballyduff and Kilmeaden, farming and GAA and community work.”

Declan Clancy, vice-principal of Our Lady of Mercy secondary school in Waterford city, where Tara did her Leaving Cert, said she was a beautiful person.

“She was happy, contented, popular, at ease with herself, at ease with her pals, at ease with her teachers, a future to look forward to, a good youngster and a good person to be with. It’s so sad, so tragically sad.”