Dundalk singer Cathy Maguire to perform at Memorial Mass for Berkeley victims

Cathy Maguire

Dundalk born singer Cathy Maguire will take to the pulpit at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in New York City this evening to sing at a Memorial Mass in honour of the six Irish students who lost their lives when a balcony collapsed in Berkeley, California.

Commenting ahead of tonight’s Mass at 6.30pm, Cathy said she was absolutely honoured to have been asked to sign by the Consul General.

She said: “It is truly a privilege to sing in memory of those poor kids who lost their lives so tragically in Berkeley.”

Cathy, who shot to fame as a teenager, has resided in America for a number of years where she has made a big name for herself.

Dundalk student passed Berkeley complex shortly before balcony collapsed

The six Irish students who died after a balcony collapsed in California yesterday

A student from Dundalk was amongst those on Kittredge Street in Berkeley, California yesterday shortly before a balcony collapsed at the Library Gardens complex leading to six Irish students falling to their deaths.

The six students – named as Olivia Burke, Lorcan Miller, Eimear Walsh, Eoghan Culligan, Ashley Donohoe and Niccolai Schuster – had been attending a 21^st birthday party when the horrific incident took place.

DCU student Conor Mulligan, who arrived in the US on his J1 Visa in May told The Irish Independent that he was living just a short walk away from the tragic scene.

“We were actually at a baseball game last night and got off the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) at about 12 and we walked this side of the road back home about half an hour or 45 minutes before it happened,” said the 26-year-old.

“We didn’t hear a party or see anyone on the balcony. We live about a 10-minute walk away up near the college. We heard the helicopters going over the house at about 6am, so it was pretty crazy.

“It will be very hard for the people that are close to them – I’d say a lot of them will go home.”