Warm tributes to victim of Mayo road tragedy

A woman who died in a two-vehicle collision on the N5 near Swinford yesterday has been named locally as Margaret Conway from the village of Tourmakeady.

The 78-year old mother of five was described by a relative today as “a lovely lady and a great loss to her community."

Mrs. Conway had been returning from a hospital checkup in Sligo when the impact occurred around 4.30 p.m.

She was a passenger in a car driven by her husband, Padraig.

Padraig, who is in his 80s, was injured in the impact which occurred in the townland of Culmore, on the Charlestown side of Swinford, and he was rushed to Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, where he is recovering.

The driver of the other car, a man in his 40s, was transferred to Galway University Hospital.

The injuries sustained by both men are understood to be serious.

Margaret and Padraig Conway lived in Tourmakeady but their postal address is Drimacoggy, Srah, Claremorris.

Councillor Michael Burke, a relative of Margaret’s through marriage, described her as a “great friend of mine and a lovely lady” whose loss to her community was immense.

“She was a hardworking homemaker and also did a bit of farming," he recalled.

Garda investigations into the accident are ongoing and a file will be prepared for the Coroner for Mayo, Patrick O’Connor.