This article is from page 2 of the 2013-07-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
YOUNG people have been gathering all weekend to lay flowers and say prayers at a canal in Ardnacrusha which only days before was the scene of summer fun and merriment.
On Friday evening last the village of Meelick was shocked as news spread that popular local teenager Joe Kileen had drowned in the canal, which for generations of teenagers had been considered a dangerous rite of passage.
The 17-year-old who was described as “charismatic” and “upbeat” lost his life in the area of the canal known locally as “Head Race” while diving and swimming with a group of friends.
Just hours before the horrifying tragedy the ESB, who own the power station in Ardnacrusha that the canal serves, had warned against using the unguarded canal.
The eldest of a family of four from Kilavoher, Meelick, Joe attended St Nessan’s Community College in Limerick and before that the local primary school.
His former schoolteacher Cathal Crowe described the teenager as “a real up beat lad with great charisma. He had the biggest smile and wave when you would meet him.”
“I remember from school, he and his brother were tenacious and wiry soccer and football players. They were gifted and talented.
“He [Joe] was well liked by young and old in the community,” said the primary school teacher who is also a local county councillor.
“This tragedy has resonated with a lot of his age group. I would have taught a lot of his peers and they are all very shocked. The whole community is in shock. The life is gone out of the place. It has really hit home how fragile life is.”
Speaking about the area where Joe died, Cllr Crowe (FF) said it was almost a rite of passage for teenag- ers, an area that mothers have been warning their sons is too dangerous for generations. Unfortunately there have been several deaths there. Every generation can recall a tragedy in the canal,” he said.
“It is a beautiful amenity area in our community but we have to remember it is an industrial canal to service the power station and it is not safe for swimming. Right now is about laying Joe to rest, but this is something we must consider in the coming weeks,” he added.
Joe is survived by his heartbroken parents Marie and Pat (Douglas), younger brother Cian and younger sisters Jenny and Tara.