Tragedy and Hope: Editor’s take on the week that was.

By Rory Morrow- Editor-in-Chief

Less than a week ago, on Friday 7th October 2022, tragedy struck the community of Creeslough in County Donegal. Ten people were killed in an explosion at a local service-station at 3pm last Friday afternoon.  

On Tuesday, the first funerals began to take place during the day. That night, a woman from Milford- a 25-minute jaunt from Creeslough- helped make history as Amber Barett’s strike sealed a win for Ireland’s Women that secured their first ever qualification for a major tournament.  

It is remarkable sometimes to see what sport can do for the mourning process. Just days on from the men’s team drawing a “Group of Death” qualification group, Vera Pauw’s girls in green kept calm in the big moments and saw out an agonisingly angsty final few minutes to write themselves into the history books.  

But as Barett so eloquently put it post-match:  

“This is the best day of my life in terms of what we have done for football but when you put it into perspective then we don’t scratch the surface of what happened there on Friday.”  

As the goal scorer wheeled off after tucking the chance away expertly, Barett, kissed the black armband with tears in her eyes. At an emotional full time, she was draped in a Donegal flag and dedicated the result to “the ten beautiful souls who unfortunately perished on Friday and for all their families.” 

Like many people across the world, I love Donegal. It has been a peaceful, idyllic, and prominent part of my childhood, which I am extremely grateful for. To see an already tightknit community come even closer together in mourning is heart-warming and a reminder of the importance of community when troubles come.  

Lisa McGee couldn’t have portrayed the funeral scene in Derry Girls’ third series any more perfectly. We, the Irish, can be a petty bunch at times and are usually up for some craic. But when tragedy strikes, the people always unite together in stoic, sombre solidarity.  

On Friday, as I overheard snippets of the news from fellow commuters at the Europa station, it was a shocking thought to contemplate, one that struggled to sink in. As I, albeit from home, reported on the Northwest Derby between Derry City and Finn Harps, a club based in Ballybfoey and a mere stone’s throw from Creeslough, the LOITV commentator commended Harps midfielder and captain, Barry McNamee for playing that night. 

 As McNamee had come from a shift in Letterkenny hospital, likely seeing the devastation up close. Wide thanks have rightly been given to the quick and responsive nature of the emergency services on Friday. Over the water this week, Everton captain, Seamus Coleman, who hails from Donegal, offered his condolences, praising “the county’s spirit and togetherness.”  

Here at QUB, a lot of students and friends that I know have Donegal roots of some kind, like myself. The euphoric success of the women on Tuesday night must be (and has been) celebrated, any Irish side that qualifies for a major tournament usually cues us up for a party.  

But especially this side and team with WNL (Women’s National League) starlet, Aine O’Gorman, shining alongside Arsenal’s Katie McCabe, it is reward for the progressive journey undertaken under Pauw.  

Yet, as ten candles continue to flicker for the ten lives lost in Donegal, I hope that, over time, Barett’s goal is remembered for all its tenderly emotional and historic significance in both Irish sport and the future of women’s football in the country.