The young woman who died when the car she was in was hit by a truck on the M8 motorway yesterday had just taken a call giving her good news about her newborn baby.
Nicola Kenny, aged 26 and from Thurles in Co Tipperary, had only just given birth for the first time on Sunday and was being driven up to Dublin by her mother Ann after her little baby Lily-Rose was transferred up to Temple Street hospital because of health worries.
When Ann got a call from the hospital she pulled into the hard shoulder for Nicola to hear from the hospital that her one-day-old daughter was doing well and would be transferred back to Clonmel Hospital where she was born.
When they finished the phone call, that was when the lorry hit the back of the car, killing Nicola who was in the back seat and injuring her mother and Nicola’s aunt Irene who was also in the car.
A family spokesman told the Herald: “Nicola had Lily-Rose in the early hours of Sunday morning in Clonmel hospital, and all was well, but then later on Sunday there was a bit of concern that the baby had a bit of a temperature and it was decided to transfer her to Temple Street.
“Then yesterday Nicola was being driven up to be with the baby when a call came through from the hospital that everything was fine.
“Ann pulled the car in to the hard shoulder so Nicola could take the call, and they were delighted to hear Lily-Rose was doing well, and that’s when the crash happened.”
Nicola’s local community around Kennedy Park were shocked at the news, with the spokesman saying: “We are all devastated, Sunday was a big day of celebration with the baby being born and the Tipperary success at Croke Park, and then this happened.”
“The set of coincidences is just unbelievable.”
Nicola’s mother is back at home with a broken arm and a shoulder injury while her aunt is in intensive care at University Hospital Limerick.
The lorry driver, who was not inujured, was arrested in connection with the crash and then released.
Ms Kenny’s family, including her father Patrick and brother, also Patrick, have asked for people who wish to make donations to give money to the Clonmel Hospital Baby Unit.
The relative paid a glowing tribute to Ms Kenny.
“Nicola was well loved. A bubbly character, a great young girl. You couldn’t say anything bad about her. Any time you met her she had a smile on her face, everyday,” he said.
“She was a gas young one as they say.”
Ms Kenny’s family home in Kennedy Park, where she lived with her mother and father, is only a few streets away from where the victorious Tipperary hurling team homecoming was held in Semple Stadium.
Ms Kenny was well known through her job in the Tesco store in Thurles and had a wide circle of friends. She was also a godmother.
Her funeral will take place on Thursday at the Cathedral of the Assumption in the town followed by burial at St Patrick’s Cemetery.
Local priests spent the day liaising with the family.
Fr Martin Hayes said prayers and sympathies were being offered to relatives and friends and appealed for them to be given privacy to grieve.
Linzi Cleary, who had been friends with Ms Kenny all her life, posted a photo of them as toddlers and a message on social media.
“What can I say sister I don’t know how I can live without you. I love you so so much babygirl. I hope your wings are as big as your perfect personality. The last 26 years nobody can even come close I love you sis. I love you so much,” she said.
