The parents of a young teenage girl killed in the tragic Creeslough explosion in Co Donegal have given their blessing to a song in her memory.
The song, Stolen Dreams, was written by internationally renowned musician Matt McGranaghan in memory of Leona Harper.
The 14-year-old schoolgirl was one of ten people killed following the explosion at the Applegreen Filling Station on the afternoon of October 7th last year.
Leona’s heartbroken parents Donna and Hugh now hope the song will help Leona’s memory to live on.
Listen here:
Saturday marks the first anniversary of the terrible tragedy in which ten people lost their lives. A memorial service is due to take place at the scene of the disaster.
All money raised from the song released in Leona’s memory will go to benefiting three charities which played a huge part in the aftermath of the explosion.
They are SARDA Ireland North, K9 Search and Rescue and CRITICAL Emergency Medical Response.
Two of these are dog-rescue charities with all three working throughout the night in a frantic bid to find Leona and the others missing in the blast.
Musician Matt, from Castlefin, said it was an honour to be asked to write the song by his cousin Ann Nicholls, a mum of one of Leona’s close friends.
Matt said “When I was asked to write the song I visited Donna and Hugh in their home to find out a little more about Leona.
“What I discovered was that she was such a very courageous and brave girl with so many interests from sport to cars and engines.
“I also learned how important music was to her and I just thought how such a young person could be so in tune with so many different interests in her life at such a young age.”
Matt went home and stayed up until 7am working on the lyrics.
The song turned out to be a duet from a child to a parent and then from a parent back to a child.
The song features lyrics from a poem that Leona cherished, which came with a picture of two horses that she and her mum Donna bought together for her room.
The lines are from poet Sarah Williams poem The Old Astronomer which read “Though my soul has set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light. I have loved the stars too fondly, to be fearful of the night.”
The duet is sung by Leaving Cert student Sophie Gallagher from Manorcunningham who attends Deele College and by Ballybofey singer Chris McLaughlin whom Matt has known for many years.
Singers Chris McLaughlin, Sophie Gallagher and Pianist and Composer Matt McGranaghan
The result has been a heart-wrenching journey but a proud one to honour the memory of a young girl whose life and dreams were stolen from her along with nine others on a still Friday October afternoon in Donegal.
Those who died in the Creeslough tragedy and will be remembered at Saturday’s memorial service are James O’Flaherty (48), Jessica Gallagher (24), Martin McGill (49), Catherine O’Donnell (39) and her son James Monaghan (13), Hugh Kelly (59), Martina Martin (49), Robert Garwe (50) and his daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe (5) and Leona Harper (14).
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