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The 10-year-old girl who was airlifted to Temple Street Children’s Hospital after a road collision in Co. Cavan has died, days after her mother was killed at the scene. Local reports identify the victims as 10-year-old Irena “Ira” Mereacre and her mother, 53-year-old Nell Raven.
Crash on the R162
Gardaí say the collision involved a car and a flat‑bed van on the R162 at Corclare, Shercock, Co. Cavan at around 4.30pm last Friday. Ms Raven was pronounced dead at the scene. Her daughter, Irena, was airlifted to Dublin for treatment but died in hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
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Irena was a pupil at Milltown National School in the parish of Drumlane. The community in Milltown has been left shocked by the double tragedy.
Who they were
Irena, commonly known as Ira, had appeared on RTÉ’s The Late Late Toy Show at Christmas, representing Cavan in the county parade and performing Irish dancing. In a profile published at the time she was described as a keen dancer with a fondness for sushi and Sanrio characters. Her audition reportedly reached the final 80 from some 4,500 entrants.
Her mother, Nell Raven, had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the spring of last year. The family received support from the Cuan Cavan Cancer Centre — staff there are understood to have encouraged an application to The Late Late Toy Show, which led Ira and her sister Evey to make an audition video.
Background on Nell Raven
Originally from the UK, Ms Raven had recently become an Irish citizen. She worked as a writer and journalist, with professional experience in London, Hong Kong and Pakistan. While in Pakistan she reported for UK outlets, including The Telegraph. She held an MA in creative writing from Oxford Brookes University.
Local response and fundraising
Drumlane Gaelic Football Club extended sympathies on social media, expressing sorrow at the deaths of Nell and her “beloved daughter Irena” and offering support to the family.
A GoFundMe page set up to assist the family stated it was raising funds to help Alex Mereacre and his stepdaughter Evey Kemp, who have lost their wife/mother and daughter/sister. At the time of reporting, the fundraiser had collected more than €10,000 towards a €20,000 target. Organisers said donations were intended to ease immediate financial pressures while the family copes with the loss.
Context: other recent road fatalities
Gardaí noted the Corclare collision is one of several fatal road incidents in recent days. Separate cases include the death of singer Glen Hansard in a motorcycle crash in Dublin, a man in his 40s killed after his car left the road on the R462 at Ballymorris, Cratloe, Co. Clare, and the death of an off‑duty Garda sergeant, Andrew O’Riordan, in a crash in Clare in which the vehicle’s driver was seriously injured.
In the Clare case where the man in his 40s died, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene and the remains were taken to University Hospital Limerick for a post‑mortem examination.
Garda appeal for witnesses
Investigating Gardaí have asked anyone who was travelling in the area between 4.15pm and 5pm last Friday, or anyone with dashcam or other footage, to come forward. Contact details are Bailieborough Garda Station on 042 969 4570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
The investigation into the Corclare collision is ongoing as officers continue to gather evidence and speak to witnesses.
