A FAMILY and a wider community have been left devastated after a tragic road accident claimed the life of 25-year-old Aisling Reilly.
Aisling a former pupil of St Eugene’s College, Roslea and former All-Ireland dancing champion had been driving to work in Asda from her home at Kilturk, Donagh when tragedy struck on the road between Ballagh Cross and Donagh village on the Roslea Road.
The investigations into the crash at an early stage, but police believe that the car left the carriageway on the offside and ended up on its roof in a field.
The single vehicle collision was reported to police shortly before 9am on Monday morning.
In an emotional tribute Aisling’s sister Briege explained how she has lost her little sister and her Mother had ‘lost her beautiful daughter’.
“She was a beautiful girl, full of life and just a very outgoing girl who just loved meeting other people.
“She was the life and soul of the party and at family gatherings. She was very bubbly and got on with anyone, within a couple of seconds you just took an instant liking to her.
“She would brighten any room up when she would walk into it. We will miss her so much.”
Mr Malachy McConnell, vice principal of St Eugene’s Roslea said the school and staff were ‘deeply saddened’ by the tragic loss and recalled his own memories of Aisling.
“I spoke to her form teacher who summed her up best as someone who found it very easy to make friends. She brought the spark into a class through her continuity, her group work. She had a bubbly personality and brought that spark to the classroom and her classmates.
“She was hard working and successful and she comes from a family that are very highly regarded by St Eugene’s, where she has a nephew at the school.”
Thomas Dillon, deputy store manager for Asda Enniskillen also paid tribute to a respected member of staff:
“We are shocked and saddened at the loss of one of our popular colleagues. Aisling was a respected member of the Asda Enniskillen team and she will be greatly missed by all those who worked with her. Our sympathies are with the Reilly family at this time.”
Mary Wray, tutor at ‘Struttin’ Stars’, where Aisling flourished as a dancer remembered an All Ireland champion who had ‘plenty of potential’. Before taking a break from competing two years ago Aisling had been involved in Ulster, All Ireland and European competitions for the club. She was crowned the All Ireland Novice 16-24 Champion back in 2007 in Letterkenny.
“Aisling was a friend to everybody, one of those bubbly personalities, she was a bright, smart girl with plenty of potential in her dancing. She lived life to the full and was an excellent girl.
“She would have danced with her cousins Geraldine and Patricia Haren, who both danced in the club. They would have been like sisters, if you saw Aisling, you saw Patricia and Geraldine and vice versa. She would have also danced with her sister Sabrina and nephew Darragh and competed with them.
“Aisling will be sorely missed by all her dancing companions and we send out our sympathies to the family and extended family circle.
Police enquiries are at an early stage and they are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact them.
At present funeral arrangements are unknown as a post-mortem has yet to be carried out.
Aisling is survived by her parents Terence and May and sisters Sabrina, Briege and Michelle.
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