Tributes paid to Grace Kenneally (10) after cancer death

Neuroblastoma tumour claims life of Galway schoolgirl whose attitude inspired many

Grace Kenneally (centre), who has died after suffering from Neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive children’s cancer, singing Christmas carols with  school friends from Gaelscoil Dara at the live crib outside Galway Cathedral in late 2014. File photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy.
Grace Kenneally (centre), who has died after suffering from Neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive children’s cancer, singing Christmas carols with school friends from Gaelscoil Dara at the live crib outside Galway Cathedral in late 2014. File photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy.

Tributes have been paid to Grace Kenneally, a 10-year-old Galway girl who died on Monday evening after a long-term fight with cancer.

Her family confirmed Grace died at home after becoming very ill in recent weeks.

Grace, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when she was very young, had a recurring tumour in her abdomen which made surgery very difficult.

She was the youngest member of the Something to Sing About choir in University College Hospital, Galway, and inspired many with her attitude to her serious illness, which required treatment including chemotherapy.

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Her mother Ethna and aunt Katherine and friends set up a fundraising campaign to assist with her treatment.

Grace had defied poor medical expectations of survival on three previous critical occasions.

A family tribute on the Saving Grace Facebook page said she was "Forever ten, forever loved, forever in our hearts".

She will be buried at Bohermore cemetery on Friday following a humanist service on Thursday evening in Conneely's funeral home, Galway.

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins is the former western and marine correspondent of The Irish Times