Ballyheigue a special place for Nicole

BALLYHEIGUE beach will always hold a special place in the heart of Nicole Ryan as she remembers the precious times that she and her late brother, Alex, spent there during their childhood.

Alex, from Millstreet, County Cork, passed away in January 2016, aged just 18, after taking a synthetic drug known as ‘N-Bomb’ at a house party in Cork.

Alex’s heartbroken mother, Irene, and his sister, Nicole, chose to spread his ashes here in Kerry, on the beach and in the water where they had created so many memories on the many visits they made to the scenic beauty spot.

On the anniversary of his death every year and on his birthday, Nicole and her mother still visit the North Kerry beach just so that they can be with him once more.

And Nicole will be returning to Kerry, too, to lead a programme highlighting the dangers of drug use to local school children.

Speaking to The Kerryman this week, Nicole recalled the special times spent in Ballybunion: “We used to go there every summer when we were a lot younger. We would spend a week or two down there.

“He just loved the beach. We would bury him the sand; he just loved playing out there. He loved swimming there and being in that water from morning to night. You had the playground, too; it was just such a special place for him and for all of us as a family,” Nicole added.

After his passing and the spreading of his ashes in the water and on the beach, Nicole said that, although she still misses her brother terribly, she gains some solace from simply going to the beach and spending time with him.

“We go down to the beach on his anniversary or his birthday to just spend time with him and visit him. We throw flowers into the water for him and then, on his birthday, we will always bring a big massive cake down with us – and we just stay with him,” she said.

Alex’s death has had a profound impact on Nicole’s life, causing her to leave behind her career as a marine engineer, and she has since developed her very own workshop for schools entitled ‘Alex’s Adventure’.

Through the workshop – which she will be bringing to students in Killarney Community College next month – she hopes to inform them of the realities and dangers of substance abuse.

“We are developing a new pilot program targeting the Junior Cycle’s SPHE curriculum. The main message we want to get across is the realities and dangers of substance abuse. It won’t just affect you, it will affect your family and your friends, too.

“When we tell students Alex’s story, it’s always silent in the room. You can hear a pin drop. It hits home for them that these things could happen to them.”

The tragic house party hit national headlines on January 23, 2016, after six people were taken to CUH after ingesting the lethal drug on the night. Following Alex’s death, three people were charged with drugs offences.

The late Alex Ryan pictured with his sister, Nicole.