29 March 2024

 

1932 EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS FATAL ACCIDENT MEMORIAL LEIXLIP

A very pleasant and moving celebration was held on Tuesday May 15th in Leixlip.  This was the unveiling of a plaque at the Liffey Bridge to commemorate Patrick Kenaney and Edward Daly of Tullamore Parish, who died tragically when returning from the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in June 1932.  Leixlip PPC commissioned a plaque to remember the tragedy, and the unveiling was performed by Michael Kenaney (nephew of Patrick Kenaney) and Rose Fox/Daly (granddaughter of Edward Daly).  The unveiling was preceded by a Prayer Service close by the bridge.  Happily Tullamore was well represented at the event by relatives of the two victims of the accident,  relatives of others who were on the lorry on the occasion, and the Chairperson of Tullamore Town Council, Sinéad Dooley.  Like many others, I was unaware of the tragedy until very recently.  It was very worthwhile to be present at the event and to connect with the sad event of the tragedy, and also to connect with the Congress of 1932 in a real way.  The background to the tragedy is that a group of about 20 people from Tullamore travelled on an open lorry to the Congress, and the accident occurred on the way home at the bridge.  All the occupants of the lorry were thrown over the railing that protected the bridge, and it is a minor miracle that only two died.  We should be grateful to Leixlip PPC for their kindness in organizing the plaque and the celebration.  It is my hope that we can have a memorial Mass for Patrick and Edward in Tullamore in the aftermath of the Congress.  – Sean Heaney PP