By Lisa Ramsden
MANY heartfelt tributes have been paid to a highly respected Warrenpoint woman who passed away at the weekend.
St Louis Grammar School teacher and GAA volunteer Aisling McGivern will be laid to rest this afternoon following her Requiem Mass at St Peter’s Church in her hometown.
The vivacious and caring woman, who was head of both Home Economics and Year 13 at the Kilkeel grammar school and an ‘outstanding volunteer’ within Down GAA, passed away in hospital on Saturday.
Her sudden passing has come as a shock not just to her heartbroken family and friends, but to the students and colleagues at St Louis, where she had been working up until days before the school broke for the Halloween holidays.
St Louis Grammar School has said Aisling “embodied” the spirt of the school.
Having joined its teaching staff 16 years ago, the school noted how she “immersed herself in school life” and “contributed so much”, both in the classroom and beyond.
In its tribute the school added she was “always willing to give of her best for our pupils and our school,” and during her career she “greatly contributed” to school life.
“As an excellent Head of Department, she ensured the smooth running of all activities and taught and supported countless students.
“She was also an extremely caring Year Head and was committed to the pastoral care of all St Louis students.”
Noting that just last month she led a school trip to Italy, in addition to taking part in numerous school skiing trips, the tribute also reflected on the many extra-curricular activities she supported, including how she assisted with many ladies football teams in the school, helping with training, organising matches and sponsorship.
In addition, she was “the chief organiser” of the school’s annual charity coffee morning in aid of the local hospice.
“Aisling was a person who lived life to the full and packed a lot into the short time she was given. Her passing leaves a huge hole in so many hearts as she was a person with so much life to live and so much life to give too,” the tribute continued.
“The sense of deep loss at her passing will be felt most keenly by her family, her father Emmett Thomas, mother Fiona, sister Claire and brother Ciarán and her niece and nephew Katie-Rose and Donnacha, who she adored.”
Extending prayers “for the peaceful repose of Aisling’s gentle soul,” it concluded: “We extend our sympathies to them and to Aisling’s extended family, wide circle of friends and our thoughts and prayers are with all our staff and students, past and present, who will mourn Aisling’s loss so deeply.”
As well as teaching, Ms McGivern was also part of Down GAA’s public relations and marketing committee.
The official Down GAA page on Facebook described her ‘an outstanding volunteer, a person who made things happen and who, by her commitment to Down GAA, made a difference to the lives of many’.
The post added that, just a matter of days before being hospitalised, Aisling was providing live social media updates as the Ulster Club Hurling Championship was played, and that this was a reflection of how she was always ‘thinking of others and making sure that they were able to follow the game on social media, not just in County Down but in reaching across the globe’.
It continued: ‘Aisling was a doer. While some others talked and debated whether something could be done or not, Aisling did it, and it was the wee things that she did that made her the special person that she was; it was the text message with words of support, or the simple call to someone to offer help, or just her energy and commitment to the tasks that she undertook’.
It added that Aisling ‘touched the lives of many in all aspects of her life.’
Condolences have also been expressed by Warrenpoint’s Cumann Pheadair Naofa, Mayobridge GAC and the Hiking Hens walking group, of which Aisling’s sister, Fiona, is a member.
The Warrenpoint GAA club described Aisling as ‘a longstanding and extremely active member’ and spoke of how she ‘played a central leadership role in every aspect of club life’.
Its statement continued: ‘Coming from a family steeped in the GAA, from a very early age, Aisling played a pivotal role in club affairs. Her input and commitment was enormous, invaluable, and sincerely appreciated by all.’
Describing her as ‘a very effective communicator’, it acknowledged how, as its public relations officer, she was ‘a pioneer in developing club social media initiatives’ and that as well as being chairperson of the club’s Communications Committee, she also ‘played a prominent role in the Down County Communications Committee’.
A family notice describes Aisling as a ‘dearly loved daughter,’ a ‘loving sister’ and ‘a cherished sister-in-law’ as well as noting that she was an ‘adored auntie’ and a ‘much-loved niece and cousin’.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in Aisling’s memory to local charity, Life and Time, which helps to provide end-of-life care.
Over £2,200 has already been raised via a JustGiving.com tribute page honouring ‘the warmth she brought to everyone she knew’.