Former President, Mary McAleese, has paid a heartfelt tribute to her ‘sister student’ who passed away following a drowning tragedy in south west Donegal last weekend.
Máire Murray (50s) formerly of Harold’s Cross, Dublin and Croghan Road, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Roscommon, had been swimming at An Trá Bheag (The Wee Beach) in Glencolmcille last Friday evening when she got into difficulties.
Despite the best efforts of a local man to save her, Ms Murray had to be airlifted to Sligo University Hospital where she was subsequently pronounced dead.
Chief pharmacist at St Michael’s hospital in Dublin, she had just finished a week-long Irish language course at the Oideas Gael college and had been a regular visitor to the area over the past 20 years.
Former President, Mary McAleese, and her husband Martin, were among those who paid tribute to Ms Murray.
“We send our deepest condolences to all Máire’s family on her very sad passing,” they posted online.
“She was a sister student at Oideas Gael and so happy to be there as were we all until that fateful Friday when the sea took her so cruelly as she took her last swim of the week. It could so easily have been any one of us for the beach is so beautiful and so tempting despite its occasional dangers. The fantastic rescue teams by air, sea and land along with the comforting help of the local community and staff at Oideas Gael and the folk village will stay long in the memory of all who were there. And Máire will be remembered with great fondness and grief too. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal – Mary and Martin McAleese”.
Ms. Murray is pre-deceased by her parents Joe and Nancy and sister-in-law Sylvia.
She will be sadly missed and remembered with love by her sister Catherine (Kate); brothers Tomás (USA) and Kevin (Cork); sister-in-law Allie; nephew Tom, nieces Anna, Alice and Lily; her very wide circle of friends, extended family, neighbours and colleagues at St. Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire.
Her funeral service will take place on Friday, August 8th, in Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Harold’s Cross Dublin at 12 noon followed by cremation at Mount Jerome crematorium.
Former President, Mary McAleese, pays heartfelt tribute to Donegal drowning victim was last modified: August 6th, 2025 by Staff Writer
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