A student who died in a freak accident in sand dunes while on holiday in Kerry was remembered at her requiem Mass on Saturday as a “beautiful and useful person” who touched countless lives despite the brevity of her existence.
Niamh McCarthy (19) of Minane Bridge, Co Cork, died last Wednesday at Kerry General Hospital after a sand dune collapsed on her.
Described by staff at University College Cork as a “gifted student”, she had been studying biological and chemical science.
Fr George Murphy, parish priest of Minane Bridge, described her as “a radiant blossom” who had “so much promise”. He noted that “jumping off the sand dunes was an age-old recreation of children in that part of Co Kerry – they all did it”.
Niamh was laid to rest in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Nohoval.