LAST UPDATE | 20 Apr 2022
A CANDLELIT VIGIL has been held following the tragic passing of Kate Moran, who died during a camogie match in Galway over the Easter weekend.
Communities in the Athenry and Monivea areas of Co Galway are still coming to terms with the death of the 20-year-old NUIG student following an accidental collision in a league camogie match on Monday evening.
Large crowds gathered at Kenny Park in Athenry this evening to pay tribute.
We are shocked & saddened at the untimely and sad passing of Kate Moran, RIP. We offer our deepest sympathies to Kate's parents Cathal & Mary, to Thady, Leah & Saoirse, the extended Moran Family, to TJ & the Brennan Family and to all the members of Camogie community in Galway🕯️ pic.twitter.com/tSrKly15LB
— Galway GAA (@Galway_GAA) April 20, 2022
The name Kate and her shirt number 12 were displayed in large letters on the pitch during the candlelit vigil.
Funeral mass for the NUI Galway student will be held at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Monivea on Friday.
Athenry camogie club, who organised the candlelit vigil tonight, described Kate as a “tremendous role model”.
“This is a terrible tragedy for her family, our club and our community,” said a club statement.
“We are deeply saddened by these events. Our sympathy and thoughts are with the Moran family and friends. Kate will be greatly missed by all who knew her.”
Please find the details of Kate Moran’s Funeral arrangements through the following link.
— Athenry Camogie Club (@AthenryCamogie) April 20, 2022
Ar dheis Dí go raibh a anam dílishttps://t.co/0tdzYeF9jf pic.twitter.com/21bVntAyOZ
The club added: “She was a tremendous role model for our many underage players and a wonderful leader both on and off the field of play. Her bubbly personality will be remembered for eternity.”
Joe Rabbitte, one of her coaches, said Kate was a “wonderful, wonderful kid”.
“A part of Athenry camogie died on Monday, we’re devastated, it’s going to be a very hard road for us to travel for the next couple of months,” he told RTÉ.
Kate was a third year student at NUI Galway’s College of Business, Public Policy and Law.
In a statement, the university said: “We at NUI Galway are deeply saddened at the sudden, tragic death of student Kate Moran and extend our heartfelt sympathies to her family, friends and loved ones.
“She was a tremendous role model, a talented sportswoman and someone who had a bright future ahead of her, both on and off the field.
“Our hearts go out to all those who knew and loved Kate.”
Monivea GAA club, where the Moran family live, also opened a book of condolence. Flags at the village national school, which Kate attended with her brother and sisters, flew at half-mast this morning, and messages of sympathy have been expressed by her secondary school, Presentation College in Athenry, and NUIG, where Kate was studying commerce and accounting.
Kate is the eldest of four children to Mary and Cathal Moran, a former Athenry and Galway hurler who operates a successful auctioneering business.
They, along with their other children Thady, Leah and Saorise, were planning to celebrate Kate’s 21st birthday next Monday week.
Kate was injured playing for Athenry in a senior league game against Ardrahan on Monday evening following an accidental collision. She was treated at the scene before being rushed to University Hospital Galway where she was pronounced dead on Tuesday.
“It is a very difficult time,” said Mary Rohan, chairperson of Athenry camogie club. “Kate was the most beautiful girl and everybody adored her. You met Kate and her smile would just light up and her bubbly personality shone on and off the pitch. Her teammates loved her, everybody loved her.
“She was very talented, she played with the club through underage up to senior. Kate’s father Cathal and the Moran family are steeped in the history of Athenry and Galway GAA. It’s just been a terrible shock. There are no words. We are just devastated,” she told Galway Bay FM.
She paid tribute to Galway Camogie and to Croke Park for all the support they have received, and to the wider community who have rallied behind the family and the club.
“Ardrahan camogie, we would like to thank them, they have been tremendous support. Like the whole camogie family, they have given us outpourings of support. Everybody is devastated,” added Mary Rohan.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland Marty Morrissey described Kate as a “brilliant camogie player”.
He said: “Our deepest sympathies go to Kate Moran’s family. Cathal (Kate’s dad) was part of the Athenry team that won the All-Ireland Club Championship in 1997, 2000 and 2001. Kate was a brilliant camogie player. She won two All-Ireland U16 medals.
“Our deepest sympathies to her brother Thady and her sisters Leah and Saoirse following this accidental collision in a camogie match in Ardrahan.”
With reporting from the Press Association
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