The death of a young man in his late teens in a tractor crash in Co Leitrim yesterday has been described as a huge shock to the community of Carrigallen.
Dessie O'Kelly was a passenger in the tractor, which was involved in a single-vehicle crash on the R204 at Aghavilla at around 3.10pm yesterday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the tractor, also aged in his late teens, was taken to Cavan General Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Dessie O'Kelly was a first year student at Teagasc Agricultural College in Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, where he was studying for a Certificate in Agriculture, known as the green cert.
The college's principal, John Kelly, said the teachers and students are in shock.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Dessie's family, friends, and fellow students at this sad time," he said.
"He joined our college last September, engaged enthusiastically in the course, made new friends, and had a passion for machinery and workshop skills," he added.
Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council Paddy O'Rourke said the community has been "numbed and shocked" by the tragedy.
Cllr O'Rourke described Dessie O'Kelly as a "young man with his life ahead of him".
"There's no words that anybody can say to his family that will console them at this point in time," he said.
"The community is a tightly knit community. It has in the past and will on this occasion rise to the challenge of supporting the family, but that in no way compensates for the loss of their son and brother."
Watch: Cllr Paddy O'Rourke describes young man killed in tractor collision as having "his life ahead of him"
Cllr O'Rourke said Mr O'Kelly was a "fine young man on the threshold of the best years of his life", adding that it was difficult to understand how such a tragedy could have happened.
"He's from a prominent local family, well known in south Leitrim and Carrigallen and across west Cavan," he said.
"He was very interested in agriculture and was studying to take his green cert ... It was so encouraging to see a young chap like him taking an interest in agriculture."
Cllr O'Rourke offered his condolences to the O'Kelly family and said he was also thinking of the driver of the tractor as he recovers in hospital.
"It has left a very dark cloud over the parish of Carrigallen and the entire south Leitrim and west Cavan area," he said.
