Friends carry out Sharon's wish by unveiling memorial bench 

A commemorative bench has been unveiled at the Donegal Hospice in memory of a mother and daughter who passed away there.

Sharon O’Kane passed away in March last year at the age of 47 and had been predeceased by her mother Margaret, known as Mags.

Sharon had told close friends and hospice staff that she wanted a bench at the hospice in memory of her and her mother.

The bench was unveiled on Tuesday after a collection by her friends and colleagues in Donegal County Council. The money raised was also used by the hospice to purchase a syringe driver valued at €1,250.

Sharon’s friends, Katie Callaghan and Selina Russell, who worked in the council with her, organised the fundraising and the unveiling of the bench.

Sharon, who was from Moville and had settled in Letterkenny, had worked in the council offices in Lifford and Milford. She also worked for the library service and with Nowdoc. Friends of hers from Nowdoc held a coffee morning in her memory on Monday with funds going to the hospice.

Katie said they were delighted to be able to carry out Sharon’s wish of having a bench unveiled in her memory.

“She said liked the idea of a bench for her and her Mam when she knew things were not going to get any better,” Katie said. “She loved butterflies so we got butterflies put on it.”

It was appropriate that the bench was unveiled on International Women's Day, Katie said.

“Sharon was a strong lady so it was an appropriate day to have it. A few years ago Sharon and another girl from work organised a coffee morning for the hospice on International Women's Day.”

Kate said that while Sharon’s father Kevin and nephew Dale were unable to attend the event, her cousin Brenda, aunt Una and uncle Michael were present.