London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Creeslough explosion: Creeslough father and child had 'a beautiful love'

Creeslough explosion: Creeslough father and child had 'a beautiful love'

A father and daughter who died in the Creeslough explosion in County Donegal shared a "beautiful love", their funeral Mass has been told.

Robert Garwe and Shauna Flanagan Garwe, the youngest of the 10 victims, were found in each other's arms in the rubble of the service station, their family said.

A priest said Shauna, 5, "made a lasting impression on all she met".

Mr Garwe, 50, was proud of his children and his homeland, Zimbabwe, he added.

The Irish President Michael D Higgins joined mourners for Saturday's service at St Michael's Church in the village, where several of the funerals have taken place.

Irish police said the explosion on 7 October appeared to have been a tragic accident.

As their coffins lay beside each other at the front of the church, Fr John Joe Duffy said the father and daughter had also been "side-by-side in the shop" when the explosion happened.

The funeral cortege for Robert Garwe and his daughter Shauna makes its way to the church in Creeslough


"Her father I'm sure in that split second just wanting to help and protect his beautiful daughter so very much," he said.

"We pray that they are side-by-side in heaven."


'Beautiful little girl'


The priest said he had known Mr Garwe and his family.

Shauna was "a beautiful little girl", he said, who loved art and animals.

She had just started as a pupil at nearby Scoil Mhuire weeks before her death and was a "radiant beacon of light, of happiness and joy" to all who knew her.

Robert, known in the village as Bob, had taken his daughter to the shop to buy a birthday cake and treats when the explosion happened.

Throughout the week, eight other funerals have been held, either in the small village itself or the surrounding areas.

'Terrible tragedy'


After attending the Mass on Saturday morning, Irish president Michael D Higgins said it had been an "extraordinary week in so many ways".

"In a small community where the relationships are so close and where people have intimate knowledge of families and circumstances, it isn't a single person or a family that carries the big lash of a terrible tragedy like this, but it is the whole community," he said.

President Higgins has attended funerals of some of the Creeslough explosion victims throughout the week


President Higgins said times like these have shown how the "best instincts and the decencies of people come to the fore".

"I think what will happen now is that will be the big challenge," he continued.

"The funerals are over, but all the vacant spaces are there and all the losses that were experienced and people remember and something new will have to come in its place - new relationships, new connections, new functions that will happen in the community.

"But I'm certain that they have all of the ingredients, of the courage, of the determination, to make that something new fresh and be as valuable as what they have lost."


On Friday, the funeral of Hugh Kelly, 59, took place.

On Thursday, the funerals of Leona Harper and Martina Martin were held.

James O'Flaherty, Catherine O'Donnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan were buried on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, funeral services were held at St Michael's Church in the village for Jessica Gallagher, 24, and 49-year-old Martin McGill.

Gardaí are continuing to investigate the cause of the blast in a building complex that included a service station, convenience store and apartments.

The store, which had a post office, was the main shop serving the 400-strong village.


Mourners heard about the pair's special bond


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×