GAA figures and many others through the county have been plunged into grief and sadness following the tragic death of 16-year-old Ellen Kinch. Ellen had bravely and courageously fought a two and a half year battle with cancer, but always remained a cheery and smiling inspiration to her friends and family. During this time her mother Marcella endlessly and tirelessly cared for Ellen. She was adopted as the mascot of the Wicklow senior footballer's during their triumphant Tommy Murphy Cup campaign, and paraded around Croke Park with the team before the final. Players and coaching staff said she was the inspiration for their success. Ellen was born in 1991 to a well known East Wicklow family and grew up on the family dairy farm at Moyne, near Knockananna. She loved the animals and the outdoor lifestyle and often rose early to help her father, Clifford, with the milking. She attended Kilcommon National School and then progressed to Colaiste Eoin in Hackestown, where she excelled at the practical subjects such as woodwork and metalwork. Her greatest joy, however was always her sport. Ellen was an enthusiastic and talented footballer with the Tinahely juvenile club an also had a passion for soccer - particularly Manchester United. Not only a player, she was also a staunch supporter of the Wicklow senior footballer's and often travelled to matches (and even training) to check their progress. Both team manager Mick O'Dwyer and captain Tommy Gill paid tribute to Ellen's courage and inspiring example after the victory in the Tommy Murphy Cup Final. That victory was extra-special to Ellen and left her absolutely over the moon. Motorsport was also a passion, in particular tallying, and Ellen took over the navigator's seat for champion driver Andrew Newbitt recently on a dash through the roads of Tinahely earlier this month. Ellen was issued with a special navigator's license from the Irish Rally Association for the run. Observers said Ellen and Andrew were the fastest things ever to go through the village! In march 2005 she was first diagnosed with cancer. Typically, Ellen responded with bravery and she went into remission for all of 2006, returning to play football and resume her life of before. Tragically the illness returned earlier this year, but Ellen refused to stop fighting. She continued with her studies, completing her Junior Certificate in Colaiste Eoin in June and made the most of every opportunity she had. Through it she kept smiling and was an inspiration to the many family and friends that rallied around her. "Ellen was an incredibly strong and brave girl," said her aunt, June. "She fought her illness with amazing strength and people would visit and be amazed at how well she was coping." There was also a humourous side to Ellen's nature and she enjoyed a joke or some light-hearted slagging with her sisters and friends. Ellen also enjoyed music. Westlife was her favourite band and their CDs were played to her final days. She had an attitude of 'just getting on with it' and touched the hearts of all she knew and met through her illness. Ellen passed away peacefully in the family home in Moyne, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her parents Clifford and marcella, sisters Michelle (18) and Jackie (13), an extended family and wide circle of friends. GAA Legend and Wicklow senior football manager Mick O'Dwyer described Ellen Kinch as a 'wonderful girl,' Micko said. "There is no doubt that she was a wonderful girl," Micko said. "She knew she didn't have long left and she wanted to be part of our team. She became an unbelievable fan of ours and we all happily decided to make her the mascot for the Tommy Murphy Cup." Micko said Ellen attended all the team's games as well as many training sessions. Her and her family travelled up with us in the bus for the final at Croke Park and we were thrilled and delighted that we could win it for her." Champion rally driver Andrew Nesbitt said Ellen was an "incredibly strong girl who left a great legacy of courage and inspiration to everybody." Earlier this month, Andrew took Ellen for a wild spin in through Tinahely in a Subaru Impreza. "She was very much into her motorsport and incredibly well versed in rallying in Europe. When I first met her there was a real glint in her eye. In the car, I asked if she wanted me to drive hard and she encouraged me to go as quickly as I could." Andrew said he recalled the party after the five in Murphy's in Tinahely, Ellen got all 150 guests up and dancing, including many folk who hadn't graced a dance floor in years! "She was just an inspirations to everyone." Wicklow GAA football captain Tommy Gill said Ellen was a girl that "everybody on the senior football panel loved. She came in with a big smile and was such a joy to have around," he said. "You wouldn't think she had such a serous illness because she was always smiling." Tommy, who scored the winning goal in the final seconds of the Tommy Murphy Cup Final at Croke Park on August 3, said it was great that Ellen could share in the team's success. "She walked around Croke Park with us at the start of the match and was absolutely brilliant. She was so strong and so brave and was an inspiration to us all. We were proud to win it for her because she had been with us since the start of the Tommy Murphy Cup and was there for the best part of all the training sessions too." "We were praying that she would recover, and the lads all loved her... she was brilliant." Tommy passed on the condolences of all the football panel to the Kinch family. Courtesy of The Wicklow People August 2007 Tweet

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