Former President, Mary McAleese, pays tribute to Glencolmcille drowning victim

Tributes have been paid to the victim of Glencolmcille’s drowning tragedy on Friday, August 1, including my former President, Mary McAleese.

Ms McAleese, along with her husband, Martin, wrote a tribute online to Máire Murray, formerly of Harold’s Cross, Dublin, and Carrick-on-Shannon, Roscommon. 

Gardai in Killybegs were alerted to the incident with Ms Murray having got into difficulty while swimming. 

She was airlifted from the water and taken to Sligo University Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased a short time after arrival.

READ NEXT: Ireland Liveability Index declares Donegal third most liveable county

Ms McAleese sent her “deepest condolences” to the Murray family, as she wrote: “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 raith a anam uasal.”