The sister of young Creeslough tragedy victim Jessica Gallagher has called on people to commemorate the first anniversary around the world.
Lisa Gallagher lost her 24-year-old sister in the explosion on Friday 7th October last year. Jessica was a creative young designer who was about to start a new job in Belfast before tragedy struck.
Now based in California, Lisa hopes that people connected to the village and living away from home can find their own way to collectively commemorate the event.
Lisa told the Soul Brew Podcast: “I won’t be in Creeslough for Mass but I’m going to do my own thing. I will go to the beach or do something we can do at home very easily that reminds me of home, like the Californian forest park.
“There are so many people living away from Creeslough and it doesn’t matter if you are in New York or Australia or Vancouver or here in California, you have to do something.
“If you do, put it on social media and you can make a group of emigrants doing things together to feel that if you are not alone.”
Lisa joined podcast hosts Aidan Hunter and Stephen Doak this week to talk about her experience and memory of the day she lost her sister.
“It never came into my head that she would be caught up in it. When these things happen you never think it’s going to be you or your family,” she said.
Lisa recalled being in Galway when the explosion happened. She tried to ring Jessica to find out where she was, while her mother, who lives nearby walked down to the scene.
The Gallagher family got the call at 6pm to say that Jessica was found. Lisa said that her five hour journey home was “the longest drive I’ve ever had”.
The late Jessica Gallagher, 24 years
Lisa then speaks about some of the tougher moments and calls for the public and journalists to be as empathetic as possible to those suffering in such situations. She spoke of how word spread on social media about Jessica’s death.
Lisa and the lads then discuss the impact on the people of Creeslough as a whole and how the community spirit has shown through in the most difficult of times. She described how it wasn’t until St Patrick’s Day, six months later, that the gravity of the situation dawned on her and she was able to confront what happened. She expressed her hope that Creeslough avoids generational trauma.
“I know there was counselling for people in Creeslough immediately after, but for this experience, I think it’s going to be years before people need counselling or help,” she said.
“I think it has parallels to the North, where people lived their lives having explosions happen daily or weekly and it’s only years later that they are able to confront what happened to them. It’s such a surreal experience that I don’t think we can comprehend until years down the line.”
Lisa spoke about how her sister Jessica lived a wonderful life, consistently pushed her boundaries, did things that were scary and enjoyed herself while doing so.
Lisa is now living her life by “taking life by the horns” in California, saying yes to more adventures and enjoying it to the fullest.
Lisa finished by saying ”Thank you everyone for protecting us and thank you to the whole of Creeslough”.
Lisa also advises that if you see someone who has gone through a tough time don’t be afraid to approach them and ask how they are and open a dialogue, as Lisa feels this harnesses new connections and helps the healing process.
The Soul Brew Podcast is hosted by Creeslough friends Aidan Hunter and Stephen Doak. Listen to the latest episode here: https://linktr.ee/SoulBrewPodcast
