A mother of five who was found dead in a hotel room in Galway earlier this week was a cancer survivor who embraced life, her funeral in Co Cork heard on Friday
Betty Harrington’s body was discovered at the Connemara Lake Hotel in Oughterard shortly before noon on Monday. She was among a group of walkers who were staying in the area for a few days. The hotel was evacuated amid concerns that carbon monoxide may have caused her death.
Daniel Harrington told the packed congregation at St Lachteen’s Church, Stuake, that his 64-year-old mother, an active member of a hillwalking club in Bishopstown, “lived life to the absolute fullest”.
“The hillwalking, the set dancing, the grandchildren – she had a better social life than myself,” he said.
“A special mention to the hillwalkers. She loved you all and the enjoyment she took out of it speaks volumes for all of you. Especially after her battle with cancer, it gave her a lease on life.
‘Happy memories’
“We are very thankful for all the happy memories growing up as children and growing in to adulthood. She was a great wife and a great daughter. She was a great sister. She was a great aunty and a great grandmother. Everything she did she gave 100 per cent.”
Mr Harrington said it was a “true privilege to be her son” and that his father and four sisters would miss her dearly.
Fr Peadar Murphy, who celebrated the Mass alongside two other priests, said Ms Harrington was the type of person who greeted you with warmth and left you with the fondest of farewells.
Vigour
Fr Murphy said she had a “wonderful sense of style” and that she lived life with vigour. Her first love, he stressed, was family.
“Family was indeed very important to Betty and she was totally devoted to her husband, Dan, and to the entire family. She was very devoted to her grandchildren. She was supportive of and interested in their achievements, successes and accomplishments. She was also a caring neighbour and a kind and trusted friend.”
Betty Harrington is survived by her husband, Donal (Dan), children Debbie, Jennifer, Donna, Daniel and Anne, her grandchildren and a wide circle of friends. She was cremated in a private service following the requiem Mass.
It is suspected Ms Harrington’s death may have been linked to carbon monoxide poisoning.
However, the Health and Safety Authority, which is investigating the death, is awaiting the results of toxicology tests before the cause of death can be confirmed.