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Hundreds say goodbye to Irish runner Ciara Mageean at her funeral in Portaferry
Former European 1500m champion Ciara Mageean was laid to rest in her hometown after her death from bowel cancer at 34. Her priest recalled a bride full of joy.
Hundreds of mourners filled the streets of Portaferry in County Down on Tuesday to say goodbye to Ciara Mageean.
The former European 1500-meter champion died Sunday at 34 after a battle with bowel cancer.
She revealed in 2025 that she had stage four bowel cancer with a likely terminal prognosis.
A guard of honor at home
Mourners walked in the funeral procession as her coffin was carried to St Patrick's Church in her hometown.
Young players from the local Gaelic club, where Mageean played camogie as a girl, lined the way. They formed a guard of honor as her coffin was carried inside.
"The love of her life"
Mageean married her longtime partner Tommy Moran last month. They held a ceremony at Belfast City Hall and a bigger celebration at Darver Castle in County Louth.
Fr Martin Kelly, who had known her since she was 8, gave the homily. He told Moran: "You were the love of her life."
He said she looked radiant at both events, dancing and singing. "She was determined to give everybody a day to remember," he said.
After the second celebration she went back to her hospice bed. She held on until Sunday, the Feast of All Saints. She died peacefully surrounded by her family.
Golden moments
Fr Kelly recalled the 2024 European final in Rome. Mageean was boxed in on the home straight. She waited for a gap and burst through to win gold.
That made her just the second Irish athlete after Sonia O'Sullivan to win an individual European title. She also ran for Ireland at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
He also shared a final memory from her hospice. She asked him to go for a walk and then insisted on a second lap. On the way back she linked his arm to help him along.
Leaders pay respects
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill attended. So did SDLP leader Claire Hanna, GAA president Jarlath Burns and Olympic gymnastics champion Rhys McClenaghan.
Aides to Irish President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin were also there.
Mageean is survived by her husband, her parents Christopher and Catherine, her sisters Máire and Nuala and her brother Brendan.
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