Sad death of bright young student and GAA fanatic Vivacious, fun loving but perhaps most admirable of all, an unstinting determination is how many have described 16 year old Ellen Kinch, who passed away following a long battle with illness. The Hacketstown student was laid to rest following a funeral service at a packed St John's Church, Preban, Co Wicklow. Her grieving parents Clifford and Marcella, sister Marcella and Jacqueline, relatives and friends this week paid tribute to Ellen whose engaging personality touched the lives of so many. A courageous Ellen sat her Junior Certificate in Coláiste Eoin, Hacketstown in June but sadly lost her brave battle for life just weeks before receiving the results. Good humoured and great fun, Ellen had many friends in the school and not just among her own year. A friendly, cheerful girl she was popular among students and staff alike. The middle daughter in the family, Ellen's sisters also attended Coláiste Eoin. Ellen's bubbly nature ensured she not only played a central role in school activities - she also threw all her enthusiasm and spirit behind her big passion, the GAA. She was an ardent follower of the Wicklow senior footballers and it was a huge source of pride to her when she led Mick O'Dwyer's team out for the semi-final of the Tommy Murphy Cup. In face the Wicklow team described Ellen as their "lucky charm" and took great delight some weeks later in posing for photographs with Ellen as the victorious Tom my Murphy's winners. Ellen's determination to live life to the full was also seen in her participation in the Ladies Mini Marathon in 1006 in aid of cancer research at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin. Ellen from Sandyford, Ballinglen, Arklow proved the inspirational figure for a group of local people from Tinahely, Ballinglen and Shillelagh to come together to participate and fundraise for the marathon, raising over 10,000 euro. Principal of Coláiste Eoin, Mick Daly, this week extended his sincerest condolences on behalf of all the students, the staff, the Parents Council, the Board of Management and County Carlow VEC to Ellen's parents Clifford and Marcella, her sisters Michelle and Jacqueline and to the extended Kinch family on the untimely death of Ellen. "Ellen was very much part of Coláiste Eoin's school community and had just recently completed her Junior Certificate, demonstrating her commitment and bravery considering the burden of illness in her young life," he said. "Ellen was a fun-loving, popular, vivacious and energetic student and will be greatly missed by all of the students and staff of Colaiste Eoin. In her role as class representative for her class group she exuded confidence and leadership and was respected greatly by her peers. "her love of life was an example to us in our lives and touched us all in its own unique way. Ellen loved and excelled in sporting activities in particular and brought determination and fortitude to the sporting field as she did in all aspects of life," Mr Daly said. Students from Colaiste Eoin formed a guard of honour at Ellen's funeral service last Thursday and as a mark of respect Colaiste Eoin remained closed on Thursday. There was also a guard of honour from Wicklow GAA which included Wicklow Senior Football manager Mick O'Dwyer. - Courtesy of The Nationalist, September 7, 2007 Tweet

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