FARMING

Kerry crash victim Vincent O’Doherty was ‘a quiet and gentle guy’ who ‘worked hard and loved helping others’

The late Vincent O'Doherty doing what he loved most in life, farming.

Stephen Fernane
© Kerryman

Tributes have been paid to 20-year-old Vincent O’Doherty from Dirha, near Listowel, who died from his injuries in a horrific road crash on the N69 on Wednesday evening.

Sadly, Vincent was pronounced dead on Thursday afternoon at University Hospital Kerry, leaving his family and community utterly devastated.

A close friend of the O’Doherty family, Fine Gael Cllr Mike Kennelly, said hearts in Listowel and Ballydonoghue - where Vincent played underage football - are ‘absolutely broken’.

Vincent was a keen farmer and was studying at Pallaskenry Agricultural College in Limerick. Among his main passions in life was working on his grandmother’s farm and sourcing farm machinery. He attended Coolard National School that is situated close to the Ballydonoghue GAA pitch where he enjoyed playing football.

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“It is just unbelievable what has happened. It is only when it impacts your own community that it hits home. It’s just devastating,” Cllr Kennelly said.

“It is a huge tragedy and it affects the entire community. My sympathy goes out to his family at this time. Vincent was such a lovely, quiet, and gentle guy. He worked hard and loved helping others in the community with farm work. He followed Kerry GAA to the ends of the earth. A fantastic young man with a great work ethic,” Mike added.

Cllr Kennelly explained that such tragedies highlight the heartbreak of road fatalities in the county.

“This is devastating and it’s more than just another statistic. It is another warning of the difficulties faced by our youth, and everyone else, on the roads. If a positive message can come out of Vincent’s sad death, it’s for people to be safe on the roads,” Cllr Kennelly said.

Chairman of Ballydonoghue GAA Club Martin O’Mahony said Vincent was one of the nicest youngsters to come through the club’s underage ranks.

"It’s an awful tragedy. Vincent was a lovely fella and it’s terribly sad what has happened. I want to send my condolences to his family and friends on behalf of the club at this sad time,” Martin said.

Three other individuals were taken to hospital for assessment and treatment following the accident but their injures are not life-threatening.

Gardaí and emergency services responded to the incident which happened on the N69 at Banemore near Listowel at 9pm on Wednesday.

Gardaí urge witnesses to come forward. Road users on the N69 between Tralee and Listowel yesterday evening from 8:30 pm to 9:15 pm with camera footage, including dash cam, are requested to provide it to investigators.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Listowel Garda Station at 068 50820, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.