A mother-of-two who died while climbing Galtymore mountain was “a bright light” who brought fun and joy to those she encountered, her funeral Mass has heard.
Cora O'Grady (51) from Luí na Gréine, Ballinwillin in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, was climbing the mountain last weekend with her children, Luke (11) and Lily (8), when she took ill.
The challenge was one of almost 200 fundraising climbing events nationwide to support former RTÉ broadcaster Charlie Bird who was climbing Croagh Patrick in Mayo.
Speaking on behalf of the family during her funeral at the Church of Our Lady Conceived Without Sin in Mitchelstown on Friday afternoon, her cousin Jerome described Ms O’Grady as a “wonderful soul”.
“We lost a bright light, an absolutely beaming, shining light, who brought so much fun and joy and a real sense of divilment to so many people in so many ways,” he said.
“Cora’s last achievement was raising money for a good cause, out in nature, climbing with the people she adored. That act alone sums up our Cora.”
He said Ms O’Grady was a woman who was “so devoted to her darling children”.
“Everything Cora did, everything Cora said, was about Lily and Luke. She absolutely idolised them,” he added.
“Cora not only loved her children, like most parents are obliged to do, but she enjoyed their company, she enjoyed being with them, she enjoyed watching their achievements and their progress and she was an incredibly proud mum.”
Over the past week, many people spoke of Ms O’Grady’s “fun-loving spirit and a real sense of divilment”, her cousin said.
“We often heard Cora before we saw her. Her loud, infectious laugh was Cora’s way of saying hello,” he added.
“And somebody would say ‘here’s Cor, here’s Grady’ and we knew then that our night was going to be full of laughter and full of fun and we’d go home with pains in our faces from laughing and smiling.”
A number of symbols were brought up to the altar, including a sign that says home, a tennis racket, a cookbook and lilies.
They were to represent her love for her family, home and community, the Mass was told.
It is understood Ms O'Grady was near the summit of 918 metre-high Galtymore at about 1pm on Saturday when she collapsed and the alarm was raised. The Irish Community Air Ambulance from Cork attended the scene.
Ms O'Grady was treated by paramedics but failed to regain consciousness and she was pronounced dead at the scene at about 2pm. Gardaí from Cahir were notified of the tragedy.
Mr Bird offered his condolences to Ms O'Grady's family and friends when news of her death emerged.
“Her family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers,” he said on Twitter.
A GoFundMe campaign set up to support Ms O’Grady’s children had raised more than €75,000 by Friday afternoon, just three days after it was set up.
