A prayer vigil is to be held in Castlerea this evening at half past seven in memory of Detective Garda Colm Horkan who was shot dead in the town last night.
Members of the community will gather at Fairgreen at 7:30pm.
A private service was held earlier this afternoon attended by his garda colleagues at The Hub.
The sense of shock in the town of Castlerea was palpable today with many people in the town knowing the Detective Garda well over the years when he had been stationed in the town previously.
Local businessman and community activist Benny O' Connell said the garda had often called into his shop over the years and had been known to a lot of people.
He also spoke on the Let's Talk show today about the community spirit in the town that would support the gardai and the family of Colm Horkan through this tragic time.
Former councillor Danny Burke who is also very active across the wider community in Castlerea says he had often talked to the Detective Garda about football and his love of sport.
He said the awful news of last night had also brought back memories for many people of the tragedy, 40 years ago next month, when two other gardai also lost their lives locally in the line of duty.
