Tributes are pouring in for a beloved nurse known for her exceptional humor, who tragically lost her life in a three-vehicle collision on her way to work.
Áine O’Reilly, in her thirties, was fatally injured in the incident on the N24 near Grange West, Boher, in Co Limerick late on Friday night. She was en route to Shannondoc, Limerick’s out-of-hours GP service, where she was employed at the time. Ms. O’Reilly, the sole occupant of her vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A man in his forties, driving another car involved in the crash, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to University Hospital Limerick. The driver of a third vehicle fled the scene, abandoning the car.
The N24 section between R505 and L1132 was temporarily closed for Garda Forensic Collision Investigators to conduct a thorough examination, but has since reopened. Gardai expressed gratitude to the public for their cooperation and stated they are pursuing a specific line of inquiry.
The community has been deeply saddened by the loss, with heartfelt messages shared online. One individual on Facebook described Áine as a gentle soul with a great sense of humor, emphasizing her valuable contributions as a nurse and the impact of her passing.
Fr. Tomas O’Connell, the parish priest, highlighted the O’Reilly family’s esteemed presence in the community, noting the profound impact of the tragedy. He emphasized Áine’s compassionate nature, recalling her volunteer work in Lourdes and underscoring the family’s ethos of altruism.
Ms. O’Reilly’s funeral is scheduled to take place at St. John the Baptist Church Nicker before her interment at St. Columba’s cemetery Pallasgreen. An obituary notice mourned her untimely passing and expressed condolences to her grieving family and friends.
