US

Archbishop Martin to celebrate Mass for Berkeley dead

Books of condolence to remain open in some areas next week to allow public pay tribute

Carol Hartley, Vicki Landua & Rita Derneha from all from Texas as they sign the book of condolences at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin today, for the the six students who died in a balcony collapse in Berkeley, California. Photograph: Fergal Philips

Elaine Edwards
Fri Jun 19 2015 - 19:30

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will celebrate a special Mass in Dublin on Saturday for those affected by the tragedy in Berkeley.

Books will also be opened at the Pro Cathedral in Dublin on Saturday and prayers will be said throughout the day for those who died or were injured in the incident in California. They will be available all day.

The victims will also be remembered at an already planned celebration of religious life at 3pm on Saturday .

People embrace at the Memorial service which was held at UCD for those who died at Berkeley. Student images from the UCD Berkeley Mass held in the Universities Church this afternoon. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

Dr Martin will celebrate Mass at the cathedral at 6pm.

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Books of condolence remain open at a number of locations.

A book at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin will be open until 6pm over the weekend.

At City Hall in Cork, the books of condolence will be open during business hours until the end of the month.

A book is also available until 4pm each day next week at Galway City Council's offices.

Belfast City Council also announced on Friday it would open a book of condolence at City Hall on Monday.

The council said it wanted to allow the people of Belfast and beyond to pay their respects. Lord mayor of Belfast, Councillor Arder Carson, will be the first person to sign the book.

Hundreds of people had signed books of condolence at the Mansion House in Dublin by 4pm on Friday.

Meanwhile a candlelit vigil in memory of the students who lost their lives at Berkeley will take place at Eyre Square in Galway city at 9pm next Wednesday evening at which the mayor of Galway Frank Fahy will be in attendance.

A Berkeley Students Memorial Galway page has been created on Facebook to coincide with the event.

A remembrance service will also be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York next Thursday.

Sayit Travel, which facilitated a number of students travelling to the US on J1 working visas this summer, expressed "deepest sympathy and support" to all students and their families and friends in the US and in Ireland who have been involved in "this truly tragic situation".

“This is a devastating experience for everyone and we are currently working with the crisis centre set up by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs to respond to this emergency.”

The company said its managing director Michael Doorley was currently in Berkeley, California to assist people.

Separately, the American Ireland Fund has said it will donate $100,000 to support those providing care and assistance on the ground to the people affected by the Berkeley tragedy.

The fund wanted to give particular acknowledgement to the The Irish Immigration Pastoral Center San Francisco, it said.

In a statement, the philanthropic fund's chairman John Fitzpatrick and president and chief executive Kieran McLoughlin said the events had had "a profound effect" on the Irish at home and abroad.

Contact numbers

Ireland

Emergency consular response team: 01-4180200

Sayit helpline Dublin: 01-6080072

Sayit helpline Cork: 021 4279190

OSG Travel Claims (Ireland): 01 -261 1550

US

Interexchange helpline: 1800 6211202 (freephone) or email worktravel@interexchange.org

OSG Assistance (USA): 001-8665186340 or email newyork@euro-center.com

Berkeley – California

For those in the immediate vicinity of Berkeley California the J1 counselling and drop-in centre is available from 2pm-10pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 2407 Dana Street (use Channing St. entrance), Room G202, 2nd Floor, Geneva Hall

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