A TWENTY year old from Ennistymon has died in a single vehicle collision in New Zealand.
Emergency services were notified at 00:45 on Christmas Day morning (New Zealand time) of a crash in Ashburton. Police confirmed that one person had died in a single-vehicle crash on Methven Highway (State Highway 77) in the suburb of Allenton. The road was temporarily closed to allow a scene examination take place.
Police confirmed that the sole occupant of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. Tim was tragically the fifth motorist to die on New Zealand roads over the festive period.
Tim O’Dwyer emigrated from North Clare to New Zealand in September along with a close friend from Miltown Malbay.
He had begun working among a group of twenty young men from North Clare, all employed by a Liscannor native and was thoroughly enjoying life in New Zealand.
Initially Tim had been based in Te Ika-a-Māui / North Island of New Zealand before setting up in Te Waipounamu / South Island.
Members of the O’Dwyer family have thanked the public for their support in recent days and have now appealed for privacy. Tim’s family said that while they were “dealing with the unthinkable and devastating heartbreak of Tim’s loss wish to thank their family, friends and neighbours for the incredible outpouring of kindness and support at this incredibly difficult time. We ask now for privacy”.
North Clare representative, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) told The Clare Echo, “The communities of Ennistymon, Lahinch, Kilfenora and beyond were struck a dreadful blow late on Christmas Eve with the tragic news of Tim’s passing. The entire community of North Clare will support the O’Dwyer and Shalloo families through this unimaginable sadness. We remember Tim’s smile and hope that he can be reunited with his loving family as quickly as possible”.
Senator Martin Conway (FG) said, “I am heartbroken for the O’Dwyer family on the death of Tim, the whole community are behind them to support in any way they can. It has a put a huge dampener on the whole community. I would appeal to people to respect the family’s appeal for privacy”.
Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs are now engaged with the O’Dwyer family on efforts to get Tim’s body repatriated.
Tim is survived by his parents, Carolyn O’Dwyer and Brian Shaloo, step-mother Áine, siblings Cora, Leah, Cian, Sam and Jack, grandparents Jim and Mary O’Dwyer of Callura in Lahinch, Brid and Larry Shalloo in Kilfenora, his aunts Pauline, Priya, Tina, Nollaig and Ann Marie, uncles Thomas, Laurence, Martin and Albert.
