Tributes paid to Ailbhe (17)
COMMUNITIES in Co Wexford and Denmark have been united in grief following the tragic death of beautiful Foulksmills teenager Ailbhe McCormack.
Ailbhe died aged only 17 at her home in Aarhaus, Denmark, on March 11. She leaves behind her heartbroken parents Elaine and Tomás; younger sisters: Roisín and Blathnáid; grandparents Sheila and Thomas Hayden and Carmel and William McCormack; relations and many, many friends.
A warm, outgoing, funny young girl, Ailbhe grew up in a loving home in Raheen, before moving with her family to Tinnerath, Foulksmills, when she was three. She attended Raheen Childcare Centre and St Leonard’s pre-school, before going on to join her peers at Clongeen NS.
Ailbhe threw herself into numerous activities from a young age, including fishing with New Ross & District Angling Club, dancing with Anne-Marie Cooney Stage School and performing in the group’s summer and Christmas shows, hurling and playing football at Coiste na nÓg level with Clongeen right through to U16s with the ladies team, swimming with New Ross Swimming Club, playing with the Gleeson School of Music, dancing with Tara School of Dancing and playing rugby with New Ross Rugby Club. Ailbhe competed in two Community Games championships in Athlone in the back stroke.
She had a wonderful singing voice and danced and sang in pantomimes in New Ross.
Ailbhe attended St Mary’s Secondary School up until last year, when, aged 16, she emigrated with her family to Denmark’s second city, Aarhaus.
Her mother Elaine said: ‘She made friends everywhere she went. She loved to socialise and loved music.’
Ailbhe played piano, harp and tin whistle and was always up for the laugh.
‘She loved making friends and had loads of friends in Denmark.’
Elaine said her daughter brought joy into many people’s hearts.
‘She was warm, kind and funny. She just always found the fun in everything and loved the laugh and the craic. She loved socialising so much with her friends.’
Both Elaine and Tomás and all her family and friends have been left stunned by Ailbhe’s death at such a young age. ‘We are just in shock; it hasn’t hit us yet and I don’t think it will for some time,’ Elaine said, fighting back tears.