Latest news with #ShaunaGill
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sr Clare Crockett: Grieving family disrupted by crowds at nun's grave
Crowds at the grave of a nun, who has taken the first step towards sainthood, have left a family with "no privacy to grieve", a man has said. Jason Campbell, whose father is buried next to Sister Clare Crockett at the City Cemetery in Londonderry, said those visiting have been walking over his father's plot and had even asked him to take photographs of month, Sr Crockett's sister, Shauna Gill, appealed to people to be respectful when visiting her sister's grave and the City and Strabane District Council, which owns the cemetery, said it is aware of this "very sensitive issue" and is working with all the families involved. The council said they have identified several measures, including additional paths and railings, that could mitigate some of the impacts currently being experienced by neighbouring graves.A budget has been identified, and the works are currently out to tender, the spokesperson added. Mr Campbell's father, James "Jimmy" Campbell, was a well-known figure in the city as a showband singer and died in 2016 at the age of Campbell said he met with council officials this week to discuss the plans, but he feels his family should be able to grieve peacefully and in private."Sister Clare becoming a saint is great for the city - she gives a lot of people hope," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme."But what is happening is that we have an influx of people, and it is really impacting the other graves."Over the years, we have had to put up a surrounding fence and a sign asking people not to walk on the grave."I go to the grave to spend time with my father, not strangers," he said. Who was Sister Clare Crockett? Sr Crockett, from Brandywell in Derry, was previously an actor but turned down the chance to present on children's TV channel Nickelodeon to become a were said to be in disbelief after she announced her decision while holding a "beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other".She then took a vow with the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother Clare, 33, died after the school she was teaching music at in Playa Prieta, Ecuador, collapsed during a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in April earthquake killed at least 480 people, injured more than 4,000 and left 231 November, Sr Clare was declared a Servant of God by the Catholic Church - the first step towards being canonised. 'It's too much' Mr Campbell said he had a meeting with council officials on Wednesday about plans to improve access to Sr Crockett's grave."I received a letter from the council informing my family they are potentially going to open the area to the back of my father's headstone so more people can come in."This is a private cemetery. On an average day, you have numerous cars pulling up, groups walking across graves, taking selfies. All while I'm praying to my dad."It's got too much now. It's hard enough dealing with grief, but now we have to deal with this."We feel we have been left to our own devices by the council and that we have no say," he Campbell appealed to local representatives to visit the graves for themselves to see first-hand what families are experiencing.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nun's family ask visitors to be respectful of grave
The sister of a nun, who has taken the first step towards sainthood, has appealed for people to be respectful when visiting her gravestone and her family home. Sister Clare Crockett, 33, died after the school she was teaching music at in Playa Prieta, Ecuador, collapsed during a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in April 2016. In November, Sr Clare was declared a Servant of God by the Catholic Church - the first step towards being canonised. Shauna Gill said: "There are days you come to that grave and you would have to queue and we love that people come to the grave, but they are disrupting other graves around it." The council, which owns the City Cemetery in Londonderry, is to consider installing paths and railings around the grave of Sr Clare to accommodate an influx of visitors to the site. "There are just so many people that come from everywhere, they are not just from Derry, they travel from afar," Shauna Gill told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today. "I totally understand other families' disappointment when they see other people are standing on graves. "They are touching Clare's gravestone and posing for photos with the headstone, so some people are just not thinking about their surroundings. "A lot of people are respectful, but there are some graves that are being damaged around it." Ms Gill said the narrow path makes it difficult for people to navigate the grave and believes removing hedging at the back of the grave and installing railings could help with access. "This could take all that congestion away from the front of the grave," she said. Ms Gill said she understands why people come to pray to Sr Clare, but they must understand their parents are also buried there. She said it can be hard for her family to visit the grave for a quiet moment of reflection knowing "you might not get near the grave". Sr Clare Theresa Crockett, from Brandywell in Derry, was previously an actor but turned down the chance to present on children's TV channel Nickelodeon to become a nun. Friends were said to be in disbelief after she announced her decision while holding a "beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other". She then took a vow with the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother order. Her motto in life was "all or nothing" and has previously been associated with fertility miracles. Sr Clare and another Irish nun injured in the quake, Sr Thérèse Ryan from County Limerick, had been teaching guitar and singing with five young women postulants - who were entering the religious order - when the earthquake struck. It is believed they became trapped on a stairwell as they ran out of the building. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed at least 480 people, injured more than 4,000 and left 231 missing. How does someone become a saint? Catholic Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown has said every grave is sacred and every family should have the right to pay their respects. He said the grave was "a major attraction" at the cemetery and a number of signposts had been erected to guide visitors to it. "Many people who have even come to visit me in Derry and have asked specifically to visit the grave," he said. "I just hope something can be done for all the family involved." He said long-term plans are being considered to manage the sheer volume of people arriving into the cemetery and sites linked to Sr Clare. Shauna Gill said they are also dealing with people arriving at Sr Clare's old house, which is currently occupied by a family member. "They can show up at any time of the day and can knock at the door," she said. "We have had people come and touch the walls or stand outside the house. "They have even asked for clothes or anything that Clare had, they just want a bit of Clare. "This is all new for everybody, so we are all trying to come to terms with it both as a town and as a family and we are just trying to find out what we can do about it." Ms Gill said it was difficult to navigate the many complexities associated with being the sister of a nun who is in the process of becoming a saint. Derry nun's family 'proud' as sainthood journey begins Funeral for nun killed in earthquake Sister Clare takes first step towards sainthood
BBC News
13-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sister Clare: Family ask visitors to be respectful at graveside
The sister of a nun, who has taken the first step towards sainthood, has appealed for people to be respectful when visiting her gravestone and her family Clare Crockett, 33, died after the school she was teaching music at in Playa Prieta, Ecuador, collapsed during a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in April November, Sr Clare was declared a Servant of God by the Catholic Church - the first step towards being Gill said: "There are days you come to that grave and you would have to queue and we love that people come to the grave, but they are disrupting other graves around it." 'Have to queue for grave' The council, which owns the City Cemetery in Londonderry, is to consider installing paths and railings around the grave of Sr Clare to accommodate an influx of visitors to the site."There are just so many people that come from everywhere, they are not just from Derry, they travel from afar," Shauna Gill told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today."I totally understand other families' disappointment when they see other people are standing on graves."They are touching Clare's gravestone and posing for photos with the headstone, so some people are just not thinking about their surroundings."A lot of people are respectful, but there are some graves that are being damaged around it." Ms Gill said the narrow path makes it difficult for people to navigate the grave and believes removing hedging at the back of the grave and installing railings could help with access."This could take all that congestion away from the front of the grave," she Gill said she understands why people come to pray to Sr Clare, but they must understand that their parents are also buried said it can be hard for her family to visit the grave for a quiet moment of reflection knowing "you might not get near the grave". Who was Sister Clare Crockett? Sr Clare Theresa Crockett, from Brandywell in Derry, was previously an actor but turned down the chance to present on children's TV channel Nickelodeon to become a were said to be in disbelief after she announced her decision while holding a "beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other".She then took a vow with the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother motto in life was "all or nothing" and has previously been associated with fertility Clare and another Irish nun injured in the quake, Sr Thérèse Ryan from County Limerick, had been teaching guitar and singing with five young women postulants - who were entering the religious order - when the earthquake is believed they became trapped on a stairwell as they ran out of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed at least 480 people, injured more than 4,000 and left 231 missing. Catholic Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown has said every grave is sacred and every family should have the right to pay their said the grave was "a major attraction" at the cemetery and a number of signposts had been erected to guide visitors to it."Many people who have even come to visit me in Derry and have asked specifically to visit the grave," he said. "I just hope something can be done for all the family involved."He said long-term plans are being considered to manage the sheer volume of people arriving into the cemetery and sites linked to Sr Clare. 'Strangers outside the house' Shauna Gill said they are also dealing with people arriving at Sr Clare's old house, which is currently occupied by a family member, and said that can also present challenges."They can show up at any time of the day and can knock at the door," she said."We have had people come and touch the walls or stand outside the house."They have even asked for clothes or anything that Clare had, they just want a bit of Clare."This is all new for everybody, so we are all trying to come to terms with it both as a town and as a family and we are just trying to find out what we can do about it."Ms Gill said it was difficult to navigate the many complexities associated with being the sister of a nun who is in the process of becoming a saint.
