Nearly €70k raised following death of young woman

Emma Kate O’Reilly of The Mill, Lurganboy, Maudabawn, Cootehill, passed away on July 24.

Donations of close to €70,000 have been raised for the family of a young Cavan woman who died in Canada after suffering from a short illness.

Emma Kate O’Reilly of The Mill, Lurganboy, Maudabawn, Cootehill, passed away on July 24 surrounded by her loving family.

She had been living and working in Vancouver at the time, and the a GoFundMe campaign was subsequently set up to try and help her family, who flew to be by her bedside in her final days, with the cost of repatriation.

The fundraiser has been organised by Emma Kate's 'forever friend' Sinéad McKiernan who thanked the more than 900 people who have contributed €67,360, far in excess of the initial €40,000 goal.

The incredible sum was raised in just three days.

“As all of the familys cost are not yet definite, the initial target was an estimate. I have increased the target to continue to support this beautiful family during this unimaginable time,” said Ms McKiernan.

She explained that while insurance will cover some of the medical and repatriation costs, there are still “huge travel and funeral costs” to bear for the family.

She says “100% ( - fees)” of the donations be sent directly to Emma Kate's family, and that any donations left over will be donated to the Kevin Bell Trust.

Emma Kate is survived by Kevin and Roisin, brothers Patrick (Roisin), Gavin (Tracey), Colm (Nell), godmother Anna, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family, neighbours and a large circle of friends.

Tributes poured in online since Emma Kate's passing.

“Rest in peace Emma Kate O’Reilly. So sad to hear. Emma previously worked with us at Abbey Theatre on our stage crew, as she did with many others. We are all so sad to hear of her untimely passing in Vancouver,” wrote Mark O’Brien, Executive Director of the Abbey Theatre.

IFarm WeFarm, a family dairy farm based in Cavan, shared on social media: “Ourselves along with our local community were shocked and saddened with the loss of Emma Kate O’Reilly who passed in Canada this week after a short illness. She had a heart of gold that was felt across our community.”

To donate visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/emmakate-o-reilly