FAMILY members and friends are preparing to gather in St Eunan’s Cathedral for a Remembrance Mass to mark the 40th anniversary of the Letterkenny fire tragedy.
Joe and Angela O’Donnell lost four children in the blaze which engulfed their home at 65 Ard O’Donnell on Saturday morning, April 26, 1986 while Noreen O’Donnell (25), daughter of Manus and Eileen O’Donnell of Sessiaghoneill, Ballybofey, died trying to rescue the children she had minded as a baby-sitter.
The children who died were Sharon (14), Joanne (12), Adrian (4) and Kevin (20 months). Their parents, along with their brothers Philip (13), Patrick (8) and Joe (5), managed to escape. A 40th Anniversary Remembrance Mass will be celebrated by Fr John Joe Duffy on Saturday, April 25 at 4pm.
A Musical Tribute will take place the following day at 3pm in the same venue. Margo, Shunie Crampsie, Sinead and Alex Black, Kyra and Joe Joe O’Donnell and Ruairi Gallagher will be joined by local choirs. There will be a retiring collection in aid of St Eunan’s Cathedral Painting Fund at both events.