Community 'devastated' by unexpected death of young Virginia woman

Leah Farrelly passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at her home at Drumina, Virginia, on Friday, April 15.

The community of east Cavan and surrounding areas are in mourning following the tragic death of Leah Farrelly over the Easter weekend.

She passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at her home at Drumina, Virginia, on Friday, April 15.

Ms Farrelly's remains will repose at Matthews Funeral Home, Bailieborough Road, Virginia (A82YV58) on Monday from 4 o’clock until prayers at 8 o'clock. Walk through only please.

A removal from Ms Farrelly's home on Tuesday morning via Dunancory Bridge, to arrive at St. Patrick’s Church Lurgan for 12 o'clock Funeral Mass.

Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Ms Farrelly was a hugely popular member of the community, and was involved with various sporting organisations in the local area, many of whom paid fond tribute to a young woman who had touched the lives of many.

Diagnosed in 2013 with a condition known as Long QT syndrome (LQTS), Ms Farrelly had been attending the Centre for Cardiac Risk in the Young Persons (CRYP).

Following her death, her family asked that donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Cry unit in Tallaght.

Long QT affects how a person's heart beats. It is estimated that 1 person in every 5,000 has LQTS.

The Virginia College graduate had been studying at TU Grangegorman.

Ms Farrelly had been a member of the Virginia GAA community from a young age, playing football for Lurgan Ladies GFC.

Following her death, the club expressed the grief felt locally in a post shared online: “Our hearts are broken as we offer our sincerest sympathies to Dessie, Nuala & Grace and their families on the sudden passing of Leah. Words fail us. May Leah Rest in Peace.”

Ms Farrelly also played basketball with East Cavan Eagles from age 10. The club shared: “Our hearts are broken as we try to come to terms with the terrible news of the sudden passing of Leah. Leah was a member of our Senior Ladies Team and played basketball with our Club since she was 10 years old. There are no words. We offer our sincerest sympathies to Dessie, Nuala & Grace and the extended Farrelly and Tully families, you are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. May Leah Rest in Peace.”

Ms Farrelly's employer, Park Rí in Kells also expressed their sympathies at this sad time.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Leah Farrelly who passed away peacefully at her home in Virginia, Cavan on Friday April 15th. Leah was one of our colleagues here in Park Rí, working part-time with the Supermacs Team. We are all devastated to hear this sad news and offer our heartfelt condolences to her Father Dessie, Mother Nuala, sister Grace, the wider family, friends and work colleagues. Please keep Leah, her parents and sister in your prayers at this sad time. May Leah's gentle soul rest in peace.”

The local business posted that a donation will be made by Park Rí to CRY centre “in memory of Leah”.

Ms Farrelly is survived by her parents Dessie and Nuala and sister Grace.

She is predeceased recently by her beloved Grandmother Monty.

Her death is deeply regretted and sadly missed by her family, her uncles Thomas (Anne), Gary (Helen), Michael (Chanita) and Sean (Wendy), her aunts Dolores (Gerry), Gloria (Kate) and Caroline, grandparents Eamon and Sheila (Tully), cousins Emma Jane, Niall, Dylan, Lauren, Blathnaid, Sorcha, Rachel, Niamh, Erin and Edward, grandaunts, granduncles, extended family and her many many friends in Lurgan Ladies, East Cavan Eagles basketball, Indian Tandoori Virginia, Park Ri Kells and her college friends and staff in TU Grangegorman.