Ireland AM star ‘heartbroken' following sudden death of beloved sister
Úna O'Rourke, from Lucan in Dublin, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, April 20 at her home in London, where she had been living for a number of years.
Síomha, who serves as one of the weekend presenters on the Virgin Media morning show and also co-hosts the hugely popular How To Gael podcast, has penned a moving tribute to her beloved sister as her family come to terms with 'a new normal without her'.
Sharing a number of sweet family photos of Una on her Instagram page on Thursday evening, Síomha wrote: "My sister Úna passed away two weeks ago. My beautiful, wildly intelligent and annoyingly driven sister died and I'm heartbroken. Ní chreidim é fós.
"Growing up, we were never without each other. In our teenage years, we absolutely killed each other - as sisters do. As adults, we accepted each other for exactly who we are and I'm so proud of everything she achieved in her too-short life.
"My family and I can't thank everyone enough for the support we've received since. The sandwiches, lasagnas, cakes. The chats, hugs, stories, touches of hands.
"We have the most amazing network of friends, neighbours, colleagues and of course family. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
"We've been blown away and so sincerely touched by the kindness of people. It reminds me of white blood cells, rushing to fight off infection. Community, rushing to help ease the pain.
"Now, we face a new normal without her. But she'll be with me - like a handprint on my heart. It'll never not be; Úna agus Síomha."
Síomha's emotional post was met with an outpouring of support from her friends and colleagues who rushed to offer their condolences.
Fellow Ireland AM presenter Muireann O'Connell said: 'Oh Síomha, I'm so sorry for the tragic loss of your beloved sister. All my love to you and your family.'
Singer Una Healy said: "I am so sorry for your loss sending you and your family so much love."
Ireland AM broadcaster and stylist Rosalind Lipsett said: "I'm so sorry for your loss. That's absolutely devastating. Sending you and your family so much love."
A death notice posted on rip.ie remembered Una as "a beloved daughter of Damhnait and Dermot and dear sister to Síomha, Aedín and her brother-in-law Cathal".
"Úna's passing is a huge loss to the family," the notice stated, adding that Una's untimely passing is "deeply regretted by her wider family; aunts, uncles, cousins and her good friends in both the UK and Ireland."
Una's funeral mass was held St. Patrick's Church in Esker, Lucan on Tuesday morning, followed by burial in Esker Lawn Cemetery.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Esther McCarthy: Signing up to the We Do Not Care Club
I would not have thought I'd have much in common with a black lady from Florida, but one of the many wonders of the internet is you can find communion in the most unlikely of places. Melani Sanders is a 45-year-old wife and mother and the founding member of the 'We Do Not Care' Club (we know this because she has it written on a bit of paper and paper-clipped onto her t-shirt). She posts videos aimed at women of a certain age who are sick to the back teeth of... well, everything. I remember seeing the first video she posted back in May. I was like, 'Yes! This gal gets it'. In a few short months, Melani's amassed 1.6m followers on Instagram, 1.3m on TikTok and 475,000 on Facebook, along with sponsorship deals, merch, and a global fan club. Turns out us mad bitches with startling mood swings and malfunctioning body thermostats just can't get enough of her. Melani sits there in her car, or kitchen, or sideways on her bed, with a travel pillow around her neck, multiple pairs of glasses perched on her person, ready to call to order another meeting of the WDNCC. She sometimes has a sleep mask slung around her neck, and often wears a robe and a satin sleep turban. (If you don't like it, she does not care.) She then uncaps her yellow highlighter, with a hint of menace, it has to be said, and proceeds to name out all the things we do not care about, as shared by her followers in the comments. All her videos start with her explaining the very simple premise. 'I started the club for all the women going through perimenopause and menopause. We are putting the world on notice that we simply do not care much anymore.' She calls out the first item, declares that we do not care, then scratches it off her list. She has this earnest look about her, like she is on serious business. And she is. One of the things on her list in a video I watched recently is: 'We do not care if the tag says hand wash. It's getting washed how it's getting washed. It's in the Lord's hands now.' Another one: 'We do not care if something is 'dishwasher safe'. It is now.' One more for the laugh: 'We do not care if you want us to go somewhere last minute. Once the bra comes off, forget about it.' Her slow, deadpan delivery is just brilliant. And to be honest, that club makes me feel a little better. Because, although I'm at the batshit-crazy (medical term) stage of my hormonal journey, I haven't quite mastered the fully not caring part yet. The other day, I started crying over the position of a fruit bowl on the table, and made the cat run into the sliding glass door in confusion. Then I had to add 'worry about cat concussion' to my checklist. I like knowing the WDNCC is there for consolation. There was one recently about not caring if a partner has had a long day. 'So did we,' drawls Melani. 'Our day included brain fog, night sweats, insomnia, frozen shoulder, and rage.' One thing that's stoking my rage at the moment is the pair of underpants strewn on the stairs. (Sidenote: Why is it called a pair?) I'm 67% sure it's clean and simply fell out of the laundry basket on the way up the stairs. Two things I'm 100% sure about, though. 1. It's not mine. 2. I am not, I repeat, NOT going to sniff it to confirm said cleanliness. It's a gamble though. It's been there a while now, no one else seems to notice it. Sometimes, on my dark days, I wonder… is it an illusion? Am I the only one who sees it — a figment of my fragile, foggy brain? Is it a metaphorical manifestation representing the mess in my mind? But then I remember that empty shopping bag on the kitchen floor. I decided I'd use it as a barometer of how much notice my fellow house inhabitants take of random things left around the house. And wasn't I was stepping over that bag every time I went to the fridge? It would have gone on until infinity so on day four, I folded it up with a martyred sigh, put it back in the boot of the car, and went and had a cry by the fruit bowl for myself. The ridiculous thing is, I'm a messy person anyway, I love a bit of creative shite thrown around the place. My office could be used for carbon dating. The kids' rooms are way tidier than mine. It's just things left in communal areas start my left eye twitching. But I'm going to work on it. The wonderful thing about Sanders' club is that it's fast becoming a movement. She's giving voice to all the women out there who can identify with these changes and challenges and who raise their hands and their voices up and say, OMG, me too! There's a real power — and comfort — in that. Sanders posted recently about the effect her club is having. 'You are not crazy. You are not alone,' she writes. 'You are surrounded by a tribe that sees you, loves you, and refuses to whisper about what we were taught to hide. We're just getting started.' On an unrelated matter, does anyone know the best way to glue a fruit bowl back together and the name of a good feline vet?
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Tracee Ellis Ross, 52, rocks tiny bikini on pool day and leaves fans gushing over her ‘flawless' figure
There may be more to the pics than just some sexy poses SUMMER BREAK Tracee Ellis Ross, 52, rocks tiny bikini on pool day and leaves fans gushing over her 'flawless' figure TRACEE Ellis Ross looked stunning in a black bikini on a recent sunny day poolside. The actress, 52, rocked an oversized black sunglasses and scalloped-edge, tiny bikini as she teased "two things... coming out real soon." 5 Tracee Ellis Ross sizzled in a recent photo shoot Credit: Instagram / traceeellisross 5 The star posed in a black bikini by a swimming pool Credit: Instagram / traceeellisross 5 She teased 'two things coming out' in the photos Credit: Instagram / traceeellisross 5 Tracee is Golden Globe winning actress and owns a hair care line Credit: Getty - Contributor Tracee, who has had a long-career as a model and actress, posed seductively in some shots standing by an infinity pool, and in other photos gave a goofy smile to camera. The Black-ish star shared the photos to Instagram with the caption: "2 things in these photos are coming out reallll soon…." Tracee, who already has her own hair care line called Pattern Beauty, did not reveal what she was referring to, but her fans tried to guess in the comments. "Shades and suit!! We're SEATED," wrote one person. Another added: "Bathing suit and shades." And a third commented: "Is it the sunnies? They're so cute!" Tracee, who is the daughter of music sensation Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein, recently opened up on why she prefers to date younger men. She shared her thoughts with former First Lady Michelle Obama on the latter's podcast, IMO. "Often I date younger men," before revealing the real reason why," she said on the episode which aired in April. Tracee spoke about knowing herself and being in charge of her life, touching on why men her age aren't a good match for her most of the time. Tracee Ellis Ross reveals real reason she dates younger men - and it's not just because 'they're hot' Speaking about dating younger men, she said: "It's not just age. It's like life experience is sort of a difference. "But I had to ask myself the question, why?" Tracee continued: "A lot of men my age are steeped in a toxic masculinity and have been raised in a culture where there is a particular way that a relationship looks. "And anything that starts to smell of that for me... I did enough of it where I was controlled and felt like I was a possession or whatever those things were, or prize. "And I just, I have no interest in it and I will not do it again."
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Two Love Islanders ‘getting close' after ‘talking for weeks' – despite not being in the villa at the same time
It comes after he previously said he was dating another villa girl love sparks Two Love Islanders 'getting close' after 'talking for weeks' – despite not being in the villa at the same time TWO Love Islanders who did not appear on the show at the same time have been heating up their relationship. Andrada Pop, 27, and Remell Mullins, 24, were spotted getting very close at the reunion, even though she has vowed to return to the ITV2 dating show on next year's All Stars series. 5 Love Island's Andrada and Remell were spotted together Credit: Instagram 5 The pair were getting close at the Love Island reunion Credit: Instagram Advertisement 5 Remell, a bombshell, was long gone before Andrada entered the villa Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 She came into the villa days later as a Casa Amor hottie Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Despite getting close outside the villa, the two hotties never crossed path on this year's Love Island. Andrada arrived as a Casa Amor beauty on day 28, long after Remell was dumped from the show after entering on day three as a bombshell. Advertisement But it looks like there might be some sparks flying between the pair outside the villa. A source told The Sun: "They've been growing close after the villa, chatting a lot and just seeing if there is something there. "They looked pretty cosy at the reunion last night and there is definitely a spark there, but they are taking it slow." The source added: "Andrada has made it clear she is interesting in returning to the villa for All Stars next year, so it may be a case of 'right guy, wrong time'. Advertisement "Both of them are pretty chill though and they are just going to take their time and see how things pan out." The Sun has contacted reps for Remell and Andrada for comment. They each shared a video to their Instagram stories of them doing shots at the party and smiling widely at each other. Not long after leaving the villa, Remell said he was dating Poppy Harrison after getting together during the show, but she has not appeared on his social media since July. Love Island fans beg bosses to sign bombshell to All Stars after savage attack on ex in final As for Andrada, she has her eyes set on getting a spot in next year's Love Island: All Stars series. Advertisement Love Island fans flooded X, formerly Twitter, saying she should be on All Stars next year, which has been confirmed for a season three. One said on her recent TikTok video: "Andrada Pop for All Stars 2026!' Andrada, who is a nail technician, personal trainer, and model, agreed with her fans. She told The Sun she'd 'absolutely' do All Stars, adding: 'I would definitely do it! I didn't find love this time round so would definitely be up for giving it another go.' 5 Andrada has said she is keen to do Love Island: All Stars
