The late Niall Greaney and Liam Loughlin Hundreds of people assembled together in grief to mourn the remains of the two young men from the area who tragically lost their lives in a horrendous car accident at Loughgeorge. Turloughmore was left shattered when a lively young man and promising hurler, Niall Greaney fatally injured and Claregalway as number when it emerged that a colleague of Niall's where they worked in the Claregalway Hotel and with whom he was to travel to the United States, Liam Loughlin had also lost his battle in University College Hospital, Galway. Niall Greaney was son of John and Gretta Greaney of Cahernashilleeney and was a popular student at GMIT. Niall was a talented musician, hurler, actor, singer and a young man full of activity. A talented fiddle player with Lackagh Branch of Comhaltas Ceoiltori Eireann, Niall played at many Fleadhs and had achieved notable success, individually and collectively with groups and bands. As a pupil with Lackagh National school, Niall's soprano voice enriched the choir at Lackagh Church. As a hurler he had come through the under age ranks and was making an strong imprint to establish himself and had come on Turloughmore senior hurling as a substitute in both Turloughmore's senior hurling championship games against Castlegar and St Thomas. The funeral of Niall Greaney was one of the biggest ever seen in the area. Members of Turloughmore hurling club, neighbours and friends assembled to direct traffic as people thronged to file past hid remains at the family home. Turloughmore Hurling club formed a guard of honour at Turloughmore Social Centre and escorted the remains to the Church of Our Lady of Knock, Lackagh. At the entrance to the church, management an staff of Claregalway Hotel, members of Lackagh CCE, members of Turloughmore Camogie Club and friends lined in a guard of honour. Hundreds overload onto the church grounds as con-celebrated Requiem Mass was celebrated by Fr John D Flannery, PP Lackagh who was joined by Fr Michael Nohilly, Breaffy, Fr Paddy Curran, Castlebar, Canon Oliver Hughes, Corofin, Fr Willie Cummins, Mervue, Fr David Cribbin, UCHG, Fr Tom Brady, GMIT, Fr Gus O Brien, Ballinfoile, Fr Charlie McDonald, Tuam, Fr Martin Rabbitte, MSC, Fr Bernard Shaughnessy, Coolarne, and Fr Richard Higgins, Labane. Members of Turloughmore Hurling club formed a guard of honour and carried the coffin to Lackagh Cemetery. Niall Greaney is survived by his parents John and Gretta Greaney, sister Linda, brother Sean, grandparents, Nellie Greaney, Cahernashelleeney and Mary O'Brien, Grange, uncles, aunts and a large circle of relatives, neighbours and friends. Liam Loughlin was also a talented and accomplished sportsperson. Liam played both Gaelic Football with Claregalway and Soccer with Cregmore Claregalway FC. Just a week before his untimely passing Liam's brother Brian played with Claregalway senior football panel that defeated Tuam Stars in the Tommy Varden Galway Senior Football Championship. Liam was not far away from taking his place along side his brother but his immediate focus was to continue to playing Junior as he was going to the United States for the summer. He had also played a lot of football with Cregmore Claregalway FC. Liam was son of Charlie and Mary Loughlin of Cregboy and was a student at NUIG. He had worked along with Niall in Claregalway Hotel and they were due to travel to the United States. Liam Loughlin attended Claregalway National School before continuing his education at 'The Bish' in Galway City. Liam then went on to NUIG where he had just completed First Arts. Liam had played for Claregalway Celtic FC and Cregmore Claregalway FC and was an accomplished underage Gaelic Footballer. He had played at all grades for Claregalway Football Club and they did him proud as they formed a guard of honour as his remains were removed from Claregalway Mortuary Chapel to the Church of the Assumption and St James', Galway. People overflowed onto the church grounds as con-celebrated Requiem Mass was celebrated by Fr Noel Mullin, PP, Claregalway, who was joined by Fr John D Flannery, Lackagh, Canon Oliver Hughes, Corofin, Fr David Cribbin, UCHG, Fr Martin Costello, SMA, Fr Niall Coughlin, Chaplin The Bish and Fr Iomar Daniels, NUIG, and Fr Michael Goaley, Glenamaddy. Members of Claregalway Football Club escorted the remains and carried the coffin on the final part of the journey to Claregalway Hotel lined the route in a guard of honour as they paid their last respects to their work colleague. Liam Loughlin is survived by his parents Charlie and Mary Loughlin, brothers, Brian and Eamon, grandparents, uncles, aunts and a very large circles of relatives, neighbours and friends. Courtesy of the Tuam Herald 14 June 2007 Tweet

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