TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN pouring in for Grainne O’Donnell, the 20-year-old student who died from meningitis on Thursday.
She was originally from Cahir, Co Tipperary, and had been studying at University College Cork.
Friends, family and work colleagues have led tributes to Grainne on social media.
She survived by her parents, her sister, three brothers and a large extended family.
People spoke of Grainne’s kindness and warmth while paying tribute.
One said: “You have touched the lives of so many with your genuine kindness and love. I feel so blessed to have shared such an incredible experience with you and I will forever cherish all of the beautiful moments.”
Another said: “You always showed me nothing but kindness and unconditional love, you were a credit to your friends and your family and what everyone should aspire to be.
“When someone you love becomes a memory the memory becomes a treasure”; you have left us all with an abundance of wealth.
The SuperValu in Cahir, where she worked, will close tomorrow between 11am and 1pm when she will be laid to rest.
A post from Supervalu Dolans Cahir said that “Grainne was a very popular member of our staff and had a fantastic attitude towards work and customers alike. [She] will be sorely missed.”
The local GAA team have also called off a match tomorrow as a mark of respect, and the annual Cahir Tidy Towns quiz was cancelled, with the group offering their sympathies to the O’Donnell family.
University College Cork also offered its sincere condolensces to the bereaved family, friends, classmates and staff who had known the 20-year-old.
It is also indicated that information and advice from the HSE had been distributed to all students regarding the disease, after a number of calls were made to the Meningitis Research Foundation in the last few days.
Meningitis is the inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. It shares many of the symptoms of other, more common, everyday illnesses such as the flu or even a hangover.
A spokesperson for the Meningitis Research Foundation said: “We want to make the public aware of the symptoms of meningitis so if anyone would like any further information or feels that they could benefit from talking to someone please call our Dublin office on: 01 819 6931, our free-phone helpline on: 1800 41 33 44 or visit our website www.meningitis.org“.
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