The Navan students who died in the bus crash in May 2005 were, clockwise, from top left, Clare McCluskey, Sinéad Ledwidge, Lisa Callan, Deirdre Scanlon and Aimee McCabe.

Young lives remembered... ‘Our classrooms and corridors still echo the wonderful spirit of Aimee, Clare, Deirdre, Lisa, and Sinéad’

Remembrance ceremony for Navan schoolgirls on 20th anniversary of bus crash tragedy

John Donohoe

Published: Fri 30 May 2025, 12:55 PM

The five young schoolgirls who died in the Navan bus crash, the 20th anniversary of which fell on Friday last, were remembered in ceremonies in St Michael's Loreto Convent Secondary School and Beaufort College on Friday.

The families of Aimee McCabe, Clare McCluskey, Deirdre Scanlon, Lisa Callan and Sinéad Ledwidge attended a tree-planting remembrance ceremony at Loreto St Michael’s Convent at Athlumney, joined by former teachers, past parents, and current school students.

Joined by students, Grace Murphy, Leah O'Toole, Shauna Laverty and Esther Bakre, Paschal Marry, chairperson of the Loreto St Michael's board of management, planted a tree close to the sculpture which had been unveiled for the 10th anniversary of the tragedy.

Former principals of Loreto St Michael’s, Sr Carmel Gallagher, Sr Elaine Troy, Miriam Marsh and Maria Harney, were joined by former Beaufort principals, John Condon, Ciaran Flynn, and Angela Crowcock, and current Loreto principal, Sean Kelly.

St Michael's teacher, Catriona Purcell, welcomed back the parents and siblings of “our cherished students taken so tragically from us on that fateful day, Monday 23rd May 2005, 20 years ago today”.

She said that they remember and honour the memory of those beloved students with love and with pride.

“As we look back, we cherish not only their memory, but also the positive impact that they made here in Loreto St Michael’s and Beaufort College. We remember their unwavering enthusiasm, their kindness, empathy, generosity and most of all their smiles and the laughter we shared. The girls had many talents. Our classrooms and corridors still echo the wonderful spirit of Aimee, Clare, Deirdre, Lisa and Sinéad. We remember the great times we had with the girls. We know that those who leave us at a very young age, leave behind them in others, the conviction and the will to carry on.

Paschal Marry, chairperson Board of Management, Loreto St Michael's, planting a tree in memory of the five deceased girls, with current students, Grace Murphy, Leah O'Toole, Shauna Laverty and Esther Bakre. Photo: Gerry Shanahan. Photo by Gerry Shanahan

“We thank the girls for their wonderful academic and pastoral work while they were in school. The girls touched so many lives with their love and kindness. They were always willing to volunteer to help out their teachers and their peers. They were an exemplary example to all present pupils gathered here today. We honour the girls today and we know that their grace will continue to inspire, motivate and uplift us all in the time to come.”

Ms Purcell continued: “We are thinking of all those affected by this tragedy, the news of which reached the four corners of the earth, in particular all the students on the bus and the parish communities of Beauparc and Rosnaree.”

She had a special welcome for the parents of the girls, Gus and Mary McCabe, Chris and Marie McCluskey, Pete and Rose Scanlon, Vincent and Patricia Callan, and Leo and Geraldine Ledwidge “who have been so dignified in the heart breaking loss of their loving and cherished daughters”. “You have been stoic, resilient, courageous and dignified in the face of your unimaginable loss,” she told the bereaved parents.

“You are a testament to the unconditional love you had for your girls. There is a great old saying or seanfhocal in Irish “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine” - We live in the shadow of each other.

“We salute you wholeheartedly and the school communities are here today in support of you now and always.”

Musicians Caoimhe Giles and Aoife Potts accompanied incoming head girl Leah O'Toole, as she read a reflection, while Paschal Marry read the opening verse of 'To Matty McGoona', a poem written by Francis Ledwidge of Slane after his friend, Matty McGoona of Navan, visited the Ledwidge home in Slane to offer condolences on the death of his brother.

To Matty McGoona

(Who came one day when we were all gloomy and cheered us with sad music)

'We were all sad and could not weep,

Because our sorrow had not tears;

You came a silent thing like Sleep,

And stole away our fears.'

***

At Beaufort College last Friday, the school community remembered the 20th anniversary of the school bus crash when staff, students, and Sinéad Ledwidge's parents, Leo and Geraldine gathered in the school's Ledwidge Garden for a memorial service. During this service, Sinead's poem, ‘Canvas of the Mind', written by her in second year, was read.

Canvas of the Mind

Sitting on a bridge on a small country road,

Watching the stream flow by,

The colours grow and fade with the seasons,

For this is the place where I

Imagine my dreams, my future as the water glistens and shines,

I hold this lonesome setting,

Endless possibility is mine.

Here, I replay all my memories,

Weight up my plans, new and old,

This place is my playground, my canvas

For my many adventures bold,