Kieran O’Malley lost his wife Liz Kavanagh O’Malley on May 17 – just weeks after doctors told the pair there were no more treatment options
Liz and her husband Kieran on their wedding day(Image: @liz.kavanagh / Instagram)
The husband of a Galway woman who died from colon cancer within eight weeks of being told medics couldn’t do any more has opened up about his grief.
Kieran O’Malley lost his wife Liz Kavanagh O’Malley on May 17 – just weeks after doctors told the pair there were no more treatment options.
Within hours of the devastating news, Kieran, who works in marketing, organised the pair’s wedding for the following week.
He explained: “I organised the wedding in two hours … every single person that I rang straight away said yes, they changed things, whatever they had to do to be there, people moved mountains and they were incredibly, incredibly helpful.
Liz Kavanagh(Image: RIP.ie)
“That was on the Friday, on the Tuesday, she moved into Galway Hospice and on the Friday we got married.”
He said he had placed tissues on each person’s chair, but said it was incredible how much love and joy were in the room.
In an interview which will air on Sunday with Miriam on RTÉ Radio 1 later today, Kieran said: “Subsequent to the wedding, some of the staff told me they weren’t sure if she’d make the wedding (but) she was able to walk down the aisle, look stunning, she was able to enjoy the day
“It was the most positive room, filled with love and it was an incredibly beautiful experience.”
Kieran O’Malley and Liz Kavanagh.
Throughout her battle with cancer, Liz documented the experience on her social media accounts.
Kieran said: “We wanted to show even in the most incredibly sad time, there was so much love in the room – we weren’t spending all day every day crying.”
He said her final eight weeks were surrounded by love.
Kieran also revealed that before Liz received her colon cancer diagnosis in late 2024, the couple had set up a candle-making business.
Kieran with Miriam O’Callaghan
He said he will now sell a candle called “Liz’s light” to raise money for Galway Hospice – where she passed away.
In addition, the annual “Walk in Green” that is organised by the Connacht Hospitality Group, who Kieran works for, will take place on Liz’s birthday on August 13.
Speaking about his grief, he said: “It has been difficult. As I say with the firsts [attending wedding, and events without Liz] but people have been so kind and I really get so much comfort from that.
“I am back playing football, and the GAA community have been amazing, every game I play the other team are coming up to me.
“I have started grief counselling, I just think it’s important to do something like that, but I am really lucky to be surrounded by brilliant people.
“I have such a great network of friends, her friends warned me so this isn’t the end, ‘we are looking after you for good’.
“My own friends have been brilliant; work have been absolutely fantastic and could not be more compassionate… You have to take one day at a time… I definitely know she is there looking over me.”
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