Forty years ago, the O'Donnell family in Letterkenny lost four children - Sharon (14), Joanne (12), Adrian (4) and Kevin (20 months) and their babysitter Noreen O'Donnell from Ballybofey in a house fire. Today, the family welcomed old friends to Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál following a weekend that saw the anniversary mass take place, before a remembrance event, including a musical tribute at St Eunan’s Cathedralplaceholder image
Forty years ago, the O'Donnell family in Letterkenny lost four children - Sharon (14), Joanne (12), Adrian (4) and Kevin (20 months) and their babysitter Noreen O'Donnell from Ballybofey in a house fire. Today, the family welcomed old friends to Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál following a weekend that saw the anniversary mass take place, before a remembrance event, including a musical tribute at St Eunan’s Cathedral | Geraldine Diver

PICTURES: Letterkenny turns out in support of O'Donnells 40 years on

By Geraldine Diver
Published 28th Apr 2026, 18:41 GMT

Forty years ago, the O'Donnell family in Letterkenny lost four children - Sharon (14), Joanne (12), Adrian (4) and Kevin (20 months) and their babysitter Noreen O'Donnell from Ballybofey in a house fire

Forty yearsago, the O'Donnell family in Letterkenny lost four children - Sharon (14), Joanne (12), Adrian (4) and Kevin (20 months) -and their babysitter Noreen O'Donnell from Ballybofey in a house fire.

Today, the family welcomed old friends to Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál following a weekend that saw the anniversary mass take place, before a remembrance event, including a musical tribute at St Eunan’s Cathedral.

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5. Forty years ago, the O'Donnell family in Letterkenny lost four children - Sharon (14), Joanne (12), Adrian (4) and Kevin (20 months) and their babysitter Noreen O'Donnell from Ballybofey in a house fire. Today, the family welcomed old friends to Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál following a weekend that saw the anniversary mass take place, before a remembrance event, including a musical tribute at St Eunan’s Cathedral

Geraldine Diver

6. Forty years ago, the O'Donnell family in Letterkenny lost four children - Sharon (14), Joanne (12), Adrian (4) and Kevin (20 months) and their babysitter Noreen O'Donnell from Ballybofey in a house fire. Today, the family welcomed old friends to Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál following a weekend that saw the anniversary mass take place, before a remembrance event, including a musical tribute at St Eunan’s Cathedral

Geraldine Diver

7. Forty years ago, the O'Donnell family in Letterkenny lost four children - Sharon (14), Joanne (12), Adrian (4) and Kevin (20 months) and their babysitter Noreen O'Donnell from Ballybofey in a house fire. Today, the family welcomed old friends to Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál following a weekend that saw the anniversary mass take place, before a remembrance event, including a musical tribute at St Eunan’s Cathedral

Geraldine Diver

8. Forty years ago, the O'Donnell family in Letterkenny lost four children - Sharon (14), Joanne (12), Adrian (4) and Kevin (20 months) and their babysitter Noreen O'Donnell from Ballybofey in a house fire. Today, the family welcomed old friends to Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál following a weekend that saw the anniversary mass take place, before a remembrance event, including a musical tribute at St Eunan’s Cathedral

Geraldine Diver

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