This article is from page 4 of the 2014-04-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
EAST Clare is in mourning today following the tragic death of an eightyear-old boy in a quad-bike accident on Thursday evening last.
Ultan Hayes from Ballinagough in Whitegate will be laid to rest this morning, April 8, following mass of the angels at St Camin’s Church in Mountshannon.
Ultan passed away at Temple Street Hospital in Dublin on Friday evening, after receiving head injuries in an accident just after 9pm on Thursday. The youngster was the passenger of a quad bike driven by his father, Brian Hayes, which came in contact with a stone wall close to their home.
Both Ultan and his father were rushed to University Hospital in Limerick, with Ultan being transferred to Temple Street Hospital. His fathers injuries are understood to be non-life threatening.
Ultan, who was a keen sports person, had been at training with the Whitegate Under 8 and Under 10 hurlers on the evening of the accident. The youngster had also completed his First Confession with his fellow students from Mountshannon National School earlier that day, as part of his preparations for his First Holy Communion.
“People are absolutely devastated. It’s a big blow for everyone in East Clare to be honest. To lose anyone in an accident is a tragedy but to for a family to lose someone so young is devastating. On behalf of everyone in Whitegate, I’d like to extend the sympathy of the whole community,” said local councillor Pat Burke.
As well as being a talented hurler, Ultan was also a promising athlete and a keen Irish dancer who was studying in a local Irish dancing school.
Ultan is survived by his parents Orla and Brian, his siblings Alannah, Oisin and Donnacha, and his grandparents Patrica and Liam Hayes from Broadford and Kathleen Hayes from Whitegate, as well as a large extended family and many friends.