First picture of woman, 24 who died after collapsing at Cork City Marathon as tribute pour for ‘positive role model'
TRIBUTES have been paid to a 24-year-old after who died after collapsing at the finish line of the Cork City Marathon.
Ellen Cassidy
Advertisement
Ellen became ill at about 1pm yesterday after she had finished the half marathon in
She was tended to at the scene by paramedics before being transferred to
She was pronounced dead a short time later.
Ellen was a champion swimmer who joined Dophin Swimming Club in Mayfield on the northside of Cork city when she was nine years old.
Advertisement
READ MORE IN NEWS
In a post on
The club stated 'Ellen swam through life with grace, strength and passion.
"Your smile and your drive will never be forgotten. Our deepest condolences to all the Cassidy's family and friends.'
Ellen was very much loved at the club not only for her talent in the water but for her kind and giving nature.
Advertisement
Most read in Irish News
Latest
Seven years ago when she represented Ireland in Luxembourg the club said that they 'couldn't be prouder' of her.
They also described her as a 'positive role model' for all their young swimmers.
'DEEP SADNESS'
Ellen had competed on behalf of her club, Munster and Ireland.
She had represented Ireland at the European Youth Olympics and the European Junior Championships.
Advertisement
She had also been on a UCC Emerging Talent programme and represented Ireland at international schools level.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork and
He said 'She became unwell at the finish line on Patrick Street.
"Immediate medical attention was provided to her. My heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones.'
Advertisement
'DEEPEST CONDOLENCES'
In a statement the marathon organisers said that they were deeply saddened to confirm that a participant in the marathon had passed away.
'The person was attended to immediately by the emergency services on the scene. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased.'
A number of road closures were in place to facilitate the running of the marathon.
Ambulance crews were in situ at the marathon.
Advertisement
Volunteers from the Cork City Civil Defence and Cork West Cork Civil Defence were also on hand as were members of the Irish Red Cross.
More than 11,000 runners took part the Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K events.
1
Tragic Ellen fell ill after the event yesterday
Credit: Dolphin Swimming Club
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
4 hours ago
- Sunday World
Gangland criminal had cocaine in system at time of fatal motorcycle crash
The 38-year-old died in a crash on the main Sligo to Manorhamilton Road on June 29th 2023. An inquest into the death of CAB target Ian McMorrow has heard that he had cocaine in system at the time of his death. The 38-year-old died in a crash on the main Sligo to Manorhamilton Road on June 29th 2023. He was travelling towards Sligo at the time with a friend, Darren Sommers who was on another motorbike. The father of three was driving a Suzuki Motorcycle, which collided with a blue Ford Focus car travelling in the opposite direction at around 8.30pm. A toxicology report found Mr McMorrow had cocaine in his system at a level of 0.084. It was determined that the presence of the drug may have been a contributing factor in the crash. Speed was also identified as an underlying cause of the collision. Ian McMorrow News in 90 June 4th An inquest into his death was held by Coroner Fergal Kelly at Carrick on Shannon Courthouse last week. The coroner returned a verdict that the cause of death was blunt force trauma following a road traffic accident. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 8.48pm. A deposition from the driver of the Ford Focus, Tara McGloin was read to the inquest. In it, she said she was driving home after dropping her father and younger sister to collect a car from a mechanic. She said she was pulling out onto the N16 and she looked left and right, and left and right again before she pulled out on to the main road. She said she was certain nothing was coming and pulled out, heading towards Manorhamilton. The woman said she then saw a flash and felt a bang. A breathalyser test was conducted at the scene, which she passed. A few months before his death, McMorrow was described by the High Court as being 'actively involved the sale and supply of drugs'. He was closely connected to local mob boss Patrick Irwin. In May 2023, High Court judge Mr Justice Alex Owens ruled that it was reasonable to believe that a Volkswagen Golf, two diamond rings and €5,000 in cash belonging to him were funded by the drugs trade. The items, including the cash that was found hidden in his girlfriend's underwear that were seized by CAB, were declared proceeds of crime and confiscated from McMorrow, who had more than 50 criminal convictions. McMorrow didn't challenge a CAB bid to have his car and cash declared the proceeds of crime. His girlfriend Claudia Gethins claimed the rings were an inheritance. The car and property were seized in garda raids in July 2021 targeting the gang in which McMorrow acted right-hand man to leader Patrick Irwin, who himself has previously been stripped of assets by CAB. McMorrow's criminal career and connections with other drug dealers were detailed in affidavits submitted to the court as part of the CAB case. Garda believe that while Irwin was in prison 2018, Ian McMorrow built up his own gang thanks to his brother Kenneth's connections with Dublin criminals, according to garda evidence detailed in court. His brother Kenneth is married to a sister of Patrick Irwin, Catherine, a former soldier who was kicked out of the Army after obstructing garda trying search Kenneth. The Irwin gang and the one previously controlled by Young have connections that stretch all along the west of Ireland, Northern Ireland and are linked to Dublin-based drug dealers with international connections. Details of the CAB investigation into McMorrow later emerged, including how he paid for his 172-reg VW Golf for cash in Northern Ireland. An Audi he traded in for the Golf had previously been bought for more than €10,000 in Co Meath when he had no legitimate means to acquire that amount of cash. While two lodgements of €10,000 and €12,000 had been made to his bank account from compensation claims, later transactions didn't correspond with the purchase of the Golf. A 'substantial amount' of duty, almost €8,000, was paid on the car by McMorrow's grandmother who the judge said had no interest in the car. Judge Owens said McMorrow and Gethins are people of 'no means' who live in a house they don't own and don't have the resources to account for the car, jewellery or cash. He said the explanation is in the affidavits that McMorrow is a drug-dealer 'working with other shady characters' The judge appointed a receiver with the power to sell off the car and jewellery and ordered the proceeds from the sales to be lodged in an account until they are forfeited to the State. McMorrow, who has more than 50 previous convictions, was a violent drug dealer selling cocaine and cannabis, who has received lengthy prison sentences. While still in his 20s he was jailed for making threats to shoot someone during a drunken melee for which he served a prison sentence. In 2022 he got a three-month suspended sentence for obstructing gardai when he was seen throwing away a plastic bag and a mobile phone as he was being chased by gardai near his home. In 2019 he was prosecuted for dangerous driving after members of the Divisional Drugs Unit attempted to stop him getting away from them. The car was driven at high-speed on the wrong side of the road, mounted footpaths and only came to an end when a tyre blew out.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Tributes for former amateur jockey, business executive and ‘thorough gentleman', 58, killed in Kildare farm accident
TRIBUTES have poured in for a former amateur jockey and top business executive who died in a farm accident. The victim, named locally as Eamonn Egan, 58, was the chief executive of the Irish division of international insurance firm Lloyd's. Advertisement He died in a In a statement Gardai said: "A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out in due course." The Advertisement Read more in News "As such, no further information is available at this time." Mr Egan, a former amateur jockey, was well-known in both the business and equestrian communities. He also hunted with the Ward Union. Locals said he was a "thorough gentleman who loved equestrian sport and outdoor life". Advertisement Most read in Irish News Mr Egan is survived by his wife, daughter and son. No funeral arrangements have been made as yet. A total of 33 work-related fatalities have been recorded in Ireland in 2025 so far, with 16 of those fatalities occurring in the agricultural sector. Farming incidents resulted in 12 deaths in 2024. Advertisement 1 Tributes have poured in for Eamonn Egan, who died in a farm accident Credit: Collect through journalist
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Woman who died in horror Galway house fire named as former US death row survivor as tributes paid
A FLORIDA death row survivor and a man in his 30s have died after a blaze broke out in a home in Galway today. Sonia 'Sunny' Jacobs spent 17 years behind bars after she was wrongfully convicted of the murder of two police officers in the Advertisement 2 Sonia 'Sunny' Jacobs has died in a house fire in Galway Credit: GoFundMe 2 Sunny and Peter Pringle each served time behind bars Credit: Getty She was married to Peter Pringle who was also sentenced to death for killing two gardai during a bank robbery in The man who died in the blaze is believed to be a carer. Sunny and the man were the only people in the property at the time of the fire. Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS Three units of the County Galway Fire Service along with crews from Galway city and An Cheathrú Rua tackled the Their bodies were taken to University Hospital Galway for post-mortem examinations. A garda spokesperson said: 'The results of the postmortems, along with the findings of the technical examination, will determine the course of the Garda investigation.' In 1976, Ms Jacobs was travelling in a car to North Carolina with her partner, Jesse Tafero, and two kids, then aged 9 years and 10 months, when they had some car trouble. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Walter Rhodes, known to Sunny, offered to help them. A fatal shooting incident kicked off, where a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a Canadian police officer were killed. Brit facing death penalty in coke smuggling plot all smiles after court rant Rhodes got a life sentence in exchange for testifying against the pair. Sunny and her partner were put on death row. Advertisement In 1990, Mr Tafero was executed and Sunny was exonerated in 1992. In 1998, the New York native met her husband Pringle at an Amnesty International event calling for the death penalty to be abolished. The pair tied the knot in 2012 and set up the Sunny Healing Center which offered a space for healing and respite to dozens of individuals who have faced miscarriages of justice. PETER'S DEATH A group of Sunny's friends set up a fundraiser for her after Peter passed away in January 2023. Advertisement They said: 'Sunny is strong in spirit but she has several health challenges and struggles with mobility. 'Sunny lives in rural Connemara, Ireland, away from many of her friends and immediate family. 'Sunny continues to care for her animals while doing what she can to continue her campaign and healing work with Exonerees.' TRIBUTES Mourners remembered Sunny online as a 'hero' and 'champion for Justice'. Advertisement One mourner said: 'Sitting here numb and sad, Sunny Jacobs has gone to be with her Peter Pringle in the afterlife. "What a sad sad day. Until we meet again, One Love Sunny.' While another added: 'I am sad to share news of the passing of my dear friend, a true shero and a champion for Justice, Sunny Jacobs.' Gardai are appealing for witnesses of the fire to come forward. Advertisement A garda spokesperson said: 'Anyone with information is asked to contact Clifden Garda Station on 095 22500, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.'
