Tributes have been paid to a young midwife who was tragically killed in a traffic accident in Co Waterford on Tuesday morning.
hauna McGrath, 22, was killed in a two-vehicle collision on the N25 at Faha near Kilmacthomas while on her way home from a night shift at University Hospital Waterford.
Gardaí said a car and truck collided at 8.30am on Tuesday.
The driver of the truck was taken to Waterford University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Waterford Ambulance Station shared a condolence message online today, which read: “A young life lost. Shauna McGrath is traveling home from her night shift at University Hospital Waterford.
“She didn’t know it would be her last night shift as a nurse. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and colleagues.
“A hard call for the first responders from the emergency services who have dealt with this tragic traffic accident.”
A Facebook group called Support for Nurses, Midwives and Frontline Staff in Ireland said health workers are “plunged into deep mourning” following the tragic news of Ms McGrath’s death.
The group said Ms McGrath’s family and friends can “be very proud to have known a beautiful, brilliant, talented young woman who helped bring many little babies into this world”.
“Beautiful young midwife Shauna McGrath tragically lost her life in a traffic accident yesterday morning while returning home from a night shift in Waterford,” it reads.
“Our deepest condolences go out to her beloved parents, sister, friend, colleagues at University Hospital Waterford, her GAA teammates and her extended family, friends and loved ones. Our hearts are broken for you.
“Thank you Shauna for your great service to healthcare in Ireland. Your work in this world is done. God has called you home.
‘Until we meet again. May her gentle soul rest in eternal peace. At the right hand of God was her faithful soul.”
Mrs McGrath’s funeral mass will be held at St. Augustine’s Church, Abbeyside on Saturday at 11am.
A funeral announcement on RIP.ie said Mrs McGrath, a resident of Cloncoskeran, Abbeyside, Co Waterford, “is deeply mourned by her bereaved parents Sean (Hiker) and Eleanor, sister Cadhla and her partner Joey, her beloved friend Liam Power, grandparents John and Breda McGrath and Ann Fleming, aunts, uncles, extended family, neighbors and a wide circle of friends”.
Gardaí has called on any witnesses to the collision to come forward and road users with video footage, including dashcam footage, are requested to make it available to them.
Anyone with information can contact Tramore garda station 051 391 620 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.