A touching and tearful remembrance ceremony took place on Tuesday to pay tribute to a much-loved local teacher who suddenly died just one day after her newborn baby. Aoife Bird died on Wednesday, November 26, in Co. Meath, Ireland, after she caught a sudden illness just hours after her baby Ailbha passed away.
According to the Irish Mirror, Aoife was a beloved Spanish, Business and SEN teacher at a local community school where she was said to be an “inspiration to her students”. Taking to the streets with a crowd of mourners, Aoife’s sister Róisín gave some heartbreaking words. She added: “Losing my sister has been one of the most challenging things we’ve ever had to face.
“It’s something we never imagined having to do, and even now, it feels surreal, but we know that Aoife understands exactly how much she meant to all of us.
“She did absolutely everything she could to save herself, because that was who she was, strong, determined, stubborn in the best way, but she was also too good, too gentle, too pure for this world, a hard exterior wrapped around the top.”
“We promise that your legacy will stay alive every single day. We promise that Daithí will always know his mammy… how proud you are of him, how much joy he brought to your life.
“We know that baby Ailbhe is in your arms forever, and I’m so sorry you couldn’t do more for you both…. And don’t worry, we will look after Jim”.
In a touching eulogy, the priest leading the service said: “We will always remember who will be forever the greatest gift of love that Jim and Daithí could ever have received, a baby, who in those few precious months has given hope and joy and love way beyond the measure of her days,” he shared.
“We will remember a young teacher who has been a light and an inspiration to her students, a colleague full of fun in the staff room, a friend and a keen competitor in the show jumping arena, representing her locality and even her country.
“We could see the devotion of her devastated parents, Margaret and Peter, such lovely people. Her heartbroken grandparents, Mick and Kathleen and Aoife’s siblings, each in their own way, have inherited so many of her attributes.
“The siblings have such beautiful memories of growing up together, especially from Christmas Eve, staying up waiting for Santa to arrive, Aoife insisting that they all hang out together in her room, the same room, by the way, that she clung on to even when she moved here to Meath.”
“How Ashton has inherited Aoife’s kindness, Aoife would do anything for anyone, a willingness to help, a generous heart, someone who gets up and gets on with it.
“Aoife has always been highly motivated, always going after what she wants, a quality and and motivation that has inspired not only Siobhan but everyone who has been so fortunate to have shared in Aoife’s life and her dreams.”
“It is impossible not to be inspired by the loving care and devotion you have for each other. It’s little wonder that every young family in this community here have regarded you and your family with the highest respect and esteem.
“We’ve already seen your mother’s incredible resilience, which will no doubt be a rock and steadfast support in the time to come for you.”
“I want to assure you, and to assure all of people’s family and friends from Waterford, Kilkenny, Ashbourne and everywhere, that this church of St Brigid’s will continue to embrace you in our care as a parish community where faith and love are put into practice, and where the memory of Aoife and Ailbhe.”
