The GAA Social The life & legacy of Sean Brown. Explained by his daughter Clare and 87-year-old wife Bridie.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
3 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Hundreds gather at vigil for mother and children killed in Fermanagh shooting
Hundreds of people have gathered for a community vigil in memory of a woman and her two teenage children who died following a shooting in Co Fermanagh. People wrapped their arms around each other as they remembered Vanessa Whyte (45), a vet originally from Co Clare, her son James (14) and daughter Sara (13). Advertisement The vigil was organised by a community group and held at the primary school, Maguiresbridge Primary School, where James and Sara previously attended. A woman signs a book of condolence for shooting victims Vanessa Whyte and her children James and Sara. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA A book of condolence, set up next to a framed photo of the family and surrounded by white flowers and candles, was also opened at the school. The principal of Maguiresbridge Primary School, Honor Irvine, described both James and Sara as popular pupils who loved sport. 'I'm a teaching principal so I taught them both for two years,' she told the PA news agency. Advertisement 'James was full of fun, always laughing, loved to get a laugh, loved to be outdoors. 'Sara was the same. Sara loved outdoors, bit of a tomboy, and the two of them got on very well, (had) lots of friends and were very popular in school.' Vanessa Whyte with her daughter Sara and son James (PSNI/PA) She described their mother Vanessa, who was a member of the parents' support group which organised fundraisers for the school, as 'full of life', and a 'roll up your sleeves, get the job done' type of person. She said the vigil, facilitated by the school, offered a place for the community to grieve together. Advertisement 'It's been lovely to hear people who knew Vanessa and knew Sara and knew James, talking about them and sharing memories,' she said. 'For the community, its a place to mourn together and to support and comfort each other.' She said the family were 'much loved' and would 'live on in our memories at Maguiresbridge Primary School for many, many years to come'. 'It's hard to put it into words to be honest, we're just heartbroken. And I don't think it has sunk in, it will be the days and weeks ahead when we realise the tragic loss that has happened in this community,' she added. Advertisement The vigil was held at Maguiresbridge Primary School in Co Fermanagh (Liam McBurney/PA) The vigil was organised by the Village Rural Development Association to give people an opportunity to 'come together and support each other at this difficult time'. 'This is an opportunity for our village to stand together in the face of such grief,' it said in a statement on social media. Flowers, teddy bears and an Arsenal football top with written notes have been laid close to scene of the incident in Drummeer Road. A fourth person, a man who was a member of the same household, remains in a serious condition in hospital in Belfast following the incident on Wednesday. Advertisement A murder investigation has been launched and police said a triple murder and attempted suicide is one line of inquiry being pursued. Candles surround a photograph of shooting victims Vanessa Whyte, 45 and her children, James, 14, and Sara, 13 (Liam McBurney/PA) First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the level of the tragedy is 'overwhelming'. 'Everybody I have been speaking to finds it very hard to convey what they really feel, deep in their hearts, because there are moments in life that really do stop us in our tracks, and certainly for me, this feels like one of those moments,' she told the BBC. 'People are really stunned and tears have been shed for this beautiful family. You only have to think about Vanessa, a young mother, her two gorgeous children, a whole life ahead of them, and that has all now been cut short. 'It's a harrowing time, obviously immediately for their family, for everybody that loved them, everybody that knew them, the community that they lived in, the wider Fermanagh community and even further than that. This has impacted so many people.' Ireland Mother and two children killed in Fermanagh shooti... Read More Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir described what happened as 'heartbreaking'. 'Vanessa was a highly respected vet and work colleague. The situation that has unfolded here is heartbreaking and my thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, work colleagues of Vanessa, and also James and Sara,' he told the BBC. 'It's really difficult to comprehend to be honest.'
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Enniskillen: School to remember gun victims 'for years to come'
The schoolmates and teachers of two murdered teenagers will feel "the ripple effects of the tragic events for years to come," their school principal has said. James and Sara Rutledge were fatally shot alongside their mother, Vanessa Whyte, in a suspected triple murder and attempted suicide in Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh, on who was 13, and her 14-year-old brother James were both pupils at Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. "As a school we are stunned and shocked at the loss of two wonderful young people," said its principal, Elizabeth Armstrong. "They were just full of life, they were both such lively and intelligent, funny young people."She added: "We'll remember their academic achievements and their love of sport."Sara loved netball and Gaelic and James loved cricket."So it's just a very difficult time and very difficult for everyone to come to terms with." Victims' friends came in to support each other A man - who is a member of the same household - is being treated for serious gunshot injuries at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.A book of condolences opened on Friday morning at Maguiresbridge Primary School, where James and Sara previously attended.A vigil was held in the primary school grounds on Friday Royal Grammar also opened its doors on Friday for staff and pupils to meet and write in a book of memories about James and Armstrong said many of the children's close friends came in to support each other."They just wanted to remember what Sara and James meant to them and it was lovely to hear those memories," she said."Our message to our pupils and families is that we're here to help, we're here to listen and we're here to say there still is hope in coming together."The principal added: "We as a school will just remember Sara and James' warmth and their personalities that shone through."So it's about remembering their joy even in the midst of such sadness and the gift that those young people gave us as a school community." People 'found strength' at school vigil Analysis by BBC News NI South West reporter Elaine MitchellIn what was once their primary school, hundreds of people signed the book of condolences in memory of former pupils James and Sara and their mum a mile away, football jerseys, flowers and a cuddly toy have been left in tribute to them on the Drummeer Road, close to their family hangs over this quiet village like a people in the community do not want this sadness to overcome the vigil held in the grounds of Maguiresbridge Primary School on Friday night, local people found strength in each other, and they will continue to do so. The children's 45-year-old mother was originally from Barefield, County Clare, in the Republic of the time of her death, Ms Whyte was employed by Stormont's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera).Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said she was a "highly respected vet and a work colleague".Ms Whyte had previously worked at Lakeland Vets in Derrygonnelly, County Fermanagh, where staff remembered her as a "devoted mum" and a "lovely person". Enniskillen Royal Grammar School is setting up a support facility for pupils, parents and staff at its Cooper Crescent a statement on Thursday, the Western Health Trust said it is working closely with the Education Authority and local community groups to support any children that may be affected by the incident.A flute band, Defenders of the Rock has cancelled its annual band parade in nearby Lisbellaw on Saturday, in light of the incident.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
Maguiresbridge: Vigil held for murdered mother and two children
A vigil has been held in Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh, for a mother and two children killed in a suspected triple murder and attempted Whyte, 45, her 13-year-old daughter Sara Rutledge and her 14-year-old son James Rutledge died after they were shot at their home in vigil was held at Maguiresbridge Primary School, where James and Sara were former in the day a book of condolence was opened at the school. Among mourners who attended was Anita McLarkey."I worked with the family at the primary school," she told BBC News NI."James was just a great wee character, Sara was a quiet wee girl. They were inseparable. They were both super bright." Another local woman who attended, Lynn Bussel, said it was important to show support."I was born and bred in Maguiresbridge," she said."It's a very good cross community, it has shocked everyone in the village."Jessie Robinson said it was important to show love and support to the extended family."It's important to show my respect," she said. The First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir were also in attendance, along with Ulster Unionist assembly member Diana Armstrong said: "Like everybody I want to show our support for the family and those most affected and the widespread community."DUP leader Gavin Robinson attended Maguiresbridge Primary School on stories he heard from people about Ms Whyte and her two children "just brings home how shocking, how tragic and how sorrowful this is", he told reporters.
