Locals rally together to fundraise for family of 'kindest soul' Freya Tobin, 12

Irish Daily Mirror

13-07-2025

Tributes continue to flow for the 'kindest, most gentle soul' Freya Tobin, who died after getting into difficulties while swimming in the River Suir as locals rally together to fundraise for her funeral costs.
Freya, 12, from Newcastle, Co Tipperary, had been in the water with a friend along the Suir Blueway at around 4.20pm last Friday, July 11.
It is understood that Freya and another friend both got into difficulty swimming around the same time. Freya's friend managed to swim to safety and raise the alarm.
A number of local boys heard the screams of the girls and dived into the water to help.
In a multi-agency response, Gardaí, National Ambulance Service personnel and firefighters from Clonmel Fire Station's swift water rescue team attended the scene.
Freya was transferred to Cork University Hospital (CUH) by the Irish Coast Guard Air and Sea Rescue 117 helicopter after being recovered from the water at around 4.45pm on Friday.
The former sixth-class student of Scoil Mhuire Caisleán Nua National School died a short time later.
Freya's friend, who managed to swim to safety, was taken to South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel for treatment.
Heartbroken locals continue to pay tribute to Freya, with one writing on social media: 'Rest in heavenly peace Freya. You were the most beautiful girl inside and out. Look over your mammy, your little brother Grayson and your family and give them the strength to get through the most devastating time of their lives. Rest easy pet. You'll be forever missed.
Another wrote: 'Rest peacefully, the most happiest beautiful girl. We will love you forever. Please watch over the family, especially Grayson and mammy.'
Meanwhile, a fundraiser has been set up to help Freya's grieving family with funeral costs.
The GoFundMe fundraiser, The Funeral of Freya Tobin, details how the local community has been affected by the 'devastating event', describes Freya as the 'kindest, most gentle soul to grace the community of Newcastle' and how her death leaves behind a 'wave of deep sorrow and regret'.
Fundraising organisers added that their lives have 'drastically' changed forever.
'What should have been another day of summer holiday fun turned into an unimaginable nightmare. In what can only be described as a tragic and utterly devastating event, our beloved Freya drowned in the River Suir while swimming with her dear friend Emily,' they continued.
'There wasn't a single person who did not know her name, nor whom she wouldn't have said hello to when passing through the village. She touched the hearts of every single person that had the pleasure of knowing her, and you couldn't help but leave her company with a smile on your face. The biggest smile of all being on the face of her biggest admirer, her little brother Grayson.'
They describe how Freya made people laugh 'uncontrollably' throughout the years with her sense of humour.
The organisers continued: 'You couldn't possibly be a friend to her mother Shannen, auntie Amber, uncle Dylan without being Freya's friend also. Her presence was magnetic and this is shown by just how many friends she has made for herself in our community and beyond. It's safe to say she had all of us wrapped around her finger but particularly, her nanny Catríona and grandad OJ.
'Her death leaves behind a wave of deep sorrow and regret. The kind that such a small community will never truly recover from. In light of this, we want to come together as a community and help the Tobin family cover the costs of Freya's funeral. I hope we can rally together and give Shannen one less thing to worry about in these horrifically, troubling times'.
As of Sunday afternoon, the fundraiser had already raised just under €30,000. Her funeral arrangements are yet to be announced. Freya is survived by her mother Shannen and her younger brother Grayson.
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