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2 from US die in Ireland horse mishap
By Amanda Erickson
The Washington Post

It was supposed to be a magical trip, an opportunity for Rosalyn Joy Few, 64, and Normand Larose, 62, both Americans, to celebrate their heritage.

The Arizona couple were traveling with Few’s daughter and grandchildren in Ireland. Like most visitors, they set out to see the country’s highlights, such as the Gap of Dunloe, a stunning mountain pass popular with tourists. On Monday, the family gathered at Kate Kearney’s cottage, a cozy bar and restaurant, then set off in a pair of horse-drawn carriages.

Two miles later, tragedy struck.

According to the Irish Times, the horse pulling Few and Larose’s carriage either startled or slipped, and then they all went tumbling 12 feet down into a steep ravine. Few’s daughter and grandchildren came upon the gruesome scene just minutes later.

Stewart Ainsley told the Irish Mirror that he saw the whole thing.

‘‘It was so, so terrible,’’ he said. ‘‘I climbed down and helped lift the cart off the man and woman. . . . The horse was pulling on the cart that was on top of them, so we had to get the horse away from it and then lift the trap off.’’

Emergency workers scrambled down the steep terrain to help, but the couple were pronounced dead at the scene.

The cart’s driver, who was experienced, according to the Independent, managed to escape the cart.

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