Eoin Doyle, the 12-year-old boy who was killed when a train struck a car near Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, on Thursday night, was a talented artist and athlete who loved music, his school principal has said.The 6.15pm Irish Rail service from Heuston Station in Dublin to Westport, Co Mayo, hit a car at a user-operated crossing at Kiltybo just before 9pm.The boy, named locally on Friday as Eoin Doyle, was fatally injured while travelling in a car with his father, Declan, who was taken to hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Shane Morgan, principal of Cloonfad National School, which the boy attended, said the school community was heartbroken.“Eoin was a friendly and kind child,” he said. “He was a talented artist and athlete, who loved music and a smile was never far from his face. Eoin will be dearly missed by his friends, and all the pupils and staff.”Eoin played football with Cloonfad United. “Only last Tuesday evening, [he] played his usual all-action display in the Cloonfad midfield in Kilkerrin as the team secured a playoff for the league title,” the club said.“He also scored a number of goals for the team this season including a couple of spectacular long range efforts.”The club described him as “a tremendous athlete with terrific energy” who also had “a rare skill nowadays of putting in a clean and precise tackle”. All club activities have been postponed until further notice.Eoin was also remembered at Claremorris Athletic Club where he was a member alongside his twin sister Saoirse. It described him as “an enthusiastic young lad who was consistently pleasant in his dealings with others”.Councillor Alma Gallagher said Ballyhaunis had been sent into a state of shock by the death. “Nobody thought in their wildest dreams that such a tragedy was going to unfold,” she said. “When I heard, I felt utter shock and devastation.” Fr Stephen Farragher said there was a noticeable increase in the numbers attending Mass at St Patrick’s Church in Ballyhaunis on Friday morning. “There was a sombre tone,” he said. Fr Stephen Farragher, parish priest in Ballyhaunis Eoin and Declan Doyle, from nearby Guane, were returning from Gaelic football training with St Jarlath’s – an amalgamated team of underage players from Bekan and Ballyhaunis – when the incident occurred. Declan Doyle – a GAA trainer and member of the Mayo masters football team – had dropped another child home minutes before the collision. Eoin was in sixth class, with his twin sister Saoirse, in Cloonfad National School, just over the border in Co Roscommon. The siblings were among hundreds of Mayo GAA supporters photographed with the Sam Maguire Cup at Ballyhaunis GAA Club last Thursday week. The famous trophy was brought to the club by local All-Ireland winning footballers Jack Coyne and David McBrien.The priest said a parishioner, who works as a firefighter, attended the scene and alerted him to the tragedy. He met Eoin’s mother Elaine, a nurse, close to the scene. “I know her so well. She gave me a big hug. She was very good when my own sister died two or three years ago in a tragic accident – she sent me a lovely message at the time.” Emergency services at the scene of a fatal collision between a train and a car in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, on Thursday. Photograph: Leon Farrell/©RollingNews.ie Ballyhaunis GAA club said Eoin was “a much loved member of our underage teams, a talented young footballer and, above all, a wonderful young boy who was a great friend and team-mate to so many within our club”.The message continued: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Eoin’s parents, Declan and Elaine, his twin sister Saoirse, his stepbrother Conor, his grandparents Pat and Marguerite Doyle and Ger and Mary Corcoran, his uncles, aunts, cousins, relatives and friends, and all those who knew and loved him.”A book of condolences opened at the clubhouse at noon. All club activities, training sessions and matches have been cancelled until further notice.A death notice posted on Rip.ie said Eoin’s funeral Mass would take place at 12pm on Tuesday at St Patrick’s Church, Cloonfad. Irish Rail offered its “deepest sympathies to the family of the young boy who tragically lost his life at a level crossing in Kiltybo near Ballyhaunis yesterday evening”.The collision happened at a level crossing at Kiltybo, Co Mayo Irish Rail chief executive Mary Considine said a full investigation into the incident was under way and further details would become clear as the inquiry continued.“Incidents like these are extremely difficult for all involved. I would also like to convey my sincere appreciation to all those who responded with such professionalism and care at the scene, both the emergency services, An Garda Síochána and our own staff,” she said.Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien described the incident as “awful news”.“Obviously, my thoughts and deepest sympathies go to that family, the loss of a young 12-year-old boy, it’s an absolute tragedy,” he said. “A full investigation is taking place right now, both through An Garda Síochána and our rail safety investigators as well.”