Students and staff at Athlone Institute of Technology were deeply saddened on Tuesday morning to learn of the sudden and untimely death of PhD student Alison (Ali ) Smyth.
A popular student, Alison was in the final stages of a PhD in chemistry in AIT, while also working part-time as a lab technician in the college.
Known to her friends as Ali, she would have celebrated her 29th birthday on Wednesday this week. She was described by her lecturers and colleagues in the institute as “a natural leader”, “a model student”, and “the life and soul of the party”.
Alison completed a science degree in AIT, and a Masters in NUI Galway, before returning to AIT to undertake her doctorate.
The lively student was an accomplished sportswoman, playing Gaelic football and basketball to the highest levels. A native of Newtowncashel, Co Longford, she played for the Longford senior ladies’ team, and also played for Athlone club Garrycastle for a time while living in the town in 2008. Her football career resulted in a national All-Star nomination in 2009.
While in recent years a medical condition had resulted in her taking some time out from the activities she loved, she had returned to play football for her native Rathcline GAA Club, and had begun to coach underage teams.
She also played basketball for various clubs over the years, including Longford Falcons, Dublin club Meteors, and the Irish u20 squad.
As news of her passing spread through the college, a Mass was celebrated in memory of Alison by chaplain Fr Shay Casey on Tuesday afternoon.
Hundreds of friends and colleagues paid their respects at her home in Lanesborough on Wednesday evening. Alison was laid to rest yesterday [Thursday] afternoon in Cashel, Co Longford.
She is survived by her parents Pat and Brendan, sister Janice, and brother Gordon.
