There are some tragedies in life that resonate with us all, but those that feature the commonplace are the ones that hit home the hardest.
All week across Galway, people have woken with a heavy heart; a pain in the pit of their stomach at the sadness of the passing of Kate Moran, the young Monivea woman who passed away after an injury incurred while playing for Athenry in a match in Ardrahan.
Monday was an iconic evening in camogie. The culmination of the Feile finals and other finals and league games. Sliotars were being smacked on fields the length and breadth of the country. Yet, the day resulted in an accidental tragedy that has stunned us all.
We feel this way because Kate was everyone; every man, woman and child who has played a game or watched a game or organised a game. We feel immense sadness at the loss of such a wonderful person because she embodied all that is good about the way we live our lives.
She was a beautiful, talented sportswoman who had played with great aplomb for her school, her club, her parish, her county, her university.
In donning the various shirts that she did, she not only went on to fulfil her own sporting ambitions, but she carried the dreams and hopes of team mates, of supporters, of communities, and most importantly of her family who will miss her the most and for whom there is little consolation on this sad shocking week.
Camogie is a wonderful game — a modern iteration of an ancient art, played with different styles and technique by different people. Here in Galway, we are fortunate that we have as our senior county team, a collection of role models. A team and squad, who although elite, by their actions, they motivate those who watch them.
When all is said and done, we all just want to be the best possible versions of ourselves, to do what we can to make others feel content; to empathise with those who are vulnerable and to bring joy and pride to as many people as possible.
I stood and watched in awe a few weeks back session after session of underage camogie county trials, almost 100 girls gave their all and more for the pride to wear the county jersey; to be able to say they represent their parish and their community with gusto.
Driven by the desire to be the best they can; that was Kate.
She will be reposing at her home in Monivea H65FE04 tonight Thursday, April 21, from 4pm to 8pm. Her funeral Mass will take place in the Church of The Sacred Heart, Ryehill, Monivea H65YE18 at 1 o’clock on Friday. Afterwards, she will be laid to rest in Templemoyle Cemetery, Newcastle, Athenry.
There are few words that can console at this sad time, but let us send our collective shoulders for her family and friends to lean on; may we wrap our collective arms around them at this difficult time.
RIP Kate — you were every one of us, and that is why you are mourned and missed.
