Tears for joyful, wonderful and kind Ailbhe (26)
MUCH-LOVED KILMAC WOMAN PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY
THERE was grief and shock throughout Kilmacanogue this week as the village said farewell to one of its brightest and kindest residents.
Ailbhe Smith (26) passed away suddenly last Thursday, to the heartbreak of her parents Michael Smith and Oona McFarland, siblings Oisín, Brigid, Rowan and Ruairí, and her family members and dear friends.
Her loved ones wore bright colours to say farewell to Ailbhe at a private ceremony at home yesterday (Tuesday), while people came out of their homes to express their sadness at her passing.
Ailbhe is remembered as a kind and caring young woman.
She worked for WALK, an organisation which helps people with disabilities to live inde
pendent lives, and her family has asked people to make a donation, if they wish, at gofundme.ie. The fund, entitled ‘In Memory of Ailbhe Smith’, has already raised more than €3,000 in donations in her memory.
‘Ailbhe had a huge personality and it was hard not to be captured by her capacity to empower and care for others,’ said a spokesperson for WALK.
THERE was deep sorrow in Kilmacanogue yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon as loved ones and the community said farewell to the late Ailbhe Smith.
Ailbhe passed away suddenly last Thursday, having suffered a brain haemorrhage, aged 26.
She will be very fondly remembered by everyone who knew her as a truly kind and wonderful person.
The people of Kilmacanogue lined the streets on Thursday afternoon, before a private ceremony held at her home to celebrate Ailbhe’s life.
She will be sadly missed with much love by her parents Michael Smith and Oona McFarland, siblings Oisín, Brigid, Rowan and Ruairí, grandparents Annie and John McFarland, best friends Jamie and Alizée, aunts, uncles, cousins and large circle of friends.
Ailbhe was a past pupil of Bray School Project and Loreto, and a graduate of DCU.
She worked at Airfield estate and for the organisation WALK.
Scuba diving was among her pastimes, as well as membership of Bray Choral Society.
A spokesperson for Signal Arts Centre, of which Ailbhe’s mother Oona MacFarland is a board member, described Ailbhe as a ‘joyful, kind and much loved young woman’, adding that members of Signal had watched her grow since she was a toddler.
Ailbhe’s family have set up a fundraiser in her memory for WALK.
She worked for the organisation, which helps people with disabilities to live independent lives.
She was passionate about WALK and the fundraiser is in honour of her work and dedication to others.
The fundraising page at gofundme.ie can be found under ‘In Memory of Ailbhe Smith’.
More than €3,000 has already been donated.
‘Ailbhe had a huge personality and it was hard not to be captured by her capacity to empower and care for others,’ said a spokesperson for WALK.
’She was extremely popular with everyone in WALK and we will miss her dearly.’