Local GAA clubs have paid tribute to Aoife Beary following her tragic passing on New Year’s Day.
The Blackrock native’s local clubs Kilmacud Crokes and Cuala led the outpouring of sympathy from the local sporting community following her death on Saturday.
She passed away in Beamount Hospital on New Year’s Day after reportedly suffering a stroke.
27-year-old Beary was one of the survivors of the Berkeley balcony collapse tragedy in 2015 in which six people were killed in California.
Lorcan Miller, Eimear Walsh, Niccolai Schuster, Eoghan Culligan, and cousins Olivia Burke and Ashley Donohoe all lost their lives while celebrating Aoife's birthday.
Ms Beary was one of 13 people on the balcony when it fell and suffered life-changing injuries including a brain injury, several broken bones, and lacerations to her organs.
She underwent open heart surgery and a long period of rehabilitation in a hospital in Santa Clara between July and September 2015 and, amazingly, she was soon able to walk again.
Aoife is survived by her parents Mike and Angela, her younger brother Tim, her younger sister Anna, and her extended family.
“It is with a heavy heart and great sadness we have to tell you that Aoife Beary passed away peacefully last night in Beaumont Hospital,” read a Cuala GAA statement.
“We are all devastated. We pass on the condolences of the whole Cuala community to Mike, Angela, Tim, Anna and the whole Beary family.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.”
Kilmacud Crokes said: "The Kilmacud Crokes GAA community is saddened to hear of the death of Aoife Beary.
"Aoife is the seventh person to have lost her life in the terrible Berkeley balcony collapse tragedy which occurred in June 2015.
"Like a number of GAA clubs at the time of this tragedy, Kilmacud Crokes had connections with those who lost their lives and were injured.
"The club at the time also mobilised to help with fundraising support for the victims. We would like to send our condolences and sympathies to the extended Beary family at this difficult time.
"May Aoife and her friends who lost their lives rest in peace forever."
