Ballaghaderreen numbed by death of teenager in Lanzarote

THE town of Ballaghaderreen has been numbed by the news that a local teenager has died tragically while on holidays in Lanzarote.

Stephen O'Gara (19), Augherine, Ballaghaderreen, was killed after his quad bike was in collision with a car in the early hours of Saturday.

Senator John O'Mahony described it as a “terrible tragedy.”

"He was a young lad just starting out in life. A few of the family were away on holidays and for this to happen is such a shock.

"In a small community something like this affects an awful lot of people. When it happens abroad it is even harder because the community is not able to offer the same support to the family," he stated.

The young man, who was an apprentice carpenter, had been holidaying in the region with his mother Maureen and grandmother.

Relatives have travelled to Lanzorote to be with Stephen's mother while arrangements are being made to bring his body home.

Stephen was a former student of St. Nathy's College, Ballaghaderreen.