Hundreds of mourners gathered in Portaferry, Northern Ireland, to pay their final respects to Irish Olympic athlete Ciara Mageean, who died aged 34 following a battle with stage four bowel cancer.
Her husband, Thomas Moran, was among those carrying her coffin during the funeral service held at St Patrick’s Church in her hometown.
Mageean died peacefully on Sunday, surrounded by members of her family, after undergoing almost 20 rounds of chemotherapy.
The former European 1500-metre champion had revealed in 2025 that she was suffering from stage four bowel cancer and had received a likely terminal prognosis.
Former Parish Priest Recalls Mageean’s Wedding Celebrations
During the funeral service, a former parish priest spoke about Mageean’s final weeks and recalled the celebrations surrounding her marriage to Moran.
The couple had married just weeks before her death, holding ceremonies in Northern Ireland and County Louth.
The priest said Mageean had wanted to organise memorable celebrations for the people closest to her and described her as radiant, dancing and singing throughout the occasions.
He said she was determined to give those around her a day to remember. After the second celebration, she returned to her hospice bed, where her condition continued to deteriorate.
The priest added that she remained alive until Sunday, which coincided with the Feast of All Saints.
He also said Mageean had been surrounded by her family when she died peacefully, imagining her grandparents, Paddy and Kate Mason, welcoming her in heaven.
Sporting Figures Attend Funeral to Pay Their Respects
Several prominent figures from Irish sport attended the service, including Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Rhys McClenaghan and Olympic boxers Michaela and Aidan Walsh.
Tributes have also come from Republic of Ireland football captain Katie McCabe and fellow athletes Keely Hodgkinson and Dina Asher-Smith.
Irish President Catherine Connolly was among those who paid tribute following Mageean’s death, as messages of condolence came from across the island.
Mageean Spoke Openly About Her Cancer Diagnosis
In interviews during the months before her death, Mageean spoke about the impact of receiving a stage four bowel cancer diagnosis at the age of 33.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, she acknowledged that the odds were against her and said she had come to terms with the possibility that she might not live to celebrate her 40th birthday.
She explained that, before becoming ill, she had expected to live well into her 80s because of her fitness and career as an athlete.
The diagnosis forced her to reconsider those expectations, although she said she continued to appreciate the positive experiences in her life.
Olympic Champion Reflected on Dreams of Having a Family
Mageean also spoke about the possibility that she would never have children, describing it as one of the most painful aspects of her diagnosis.
She said starting a family had always been something she wanted, but she had found it difficult watching friends experience pregnancies and parenthood.
Mageean explained that some friends had been nervous about telling her they were expecting children because they did not want to upset her.
She said she could feel heartbroken about her own circumstances while still being genuinely happy for them.
Although she did not expect to have children of her own, she said she had many nieces and nephews in her life who brought her joy.
Athlete Recalled Learning She Had Stage Four Cancer
In an interview with Irish broadcaster RTÉ shortly before her death, Mageean described the moment she learned the extent of her illness.
She said she had sat in stunned silence with her husband before breaking down in tears.
Mageean admitted that she searched online for survival statistics after receiving the diagnosis. She found figures suggesting that between 10 and 15 per cent of people with stage four cancer survive.
Although the statistics frightened her, she said she initially focused on the possibility of being among those who recovered.
She described experiencing a mixture of determination to fight the disease and fear about the prospect of dying.
Mageean also said she had not previously known anyone her age who was going through the same experience.
Mageean Made History With European 1500-Metre Gold
Mageean represented Ireland at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games during her athletics career.
Her most significant achievement came in 2024, when she won the European 1500-metre title in Rome.
The victory made her only the second Irish athlete, after Sonia O’Sullivan, to win an individual European championship title.
She was widely recognised for her achievements in middle-distance running and her contribution to Irish athletics.
Family Confirms Death in Emotional Statement
Following her death, a statement published on Mageean’s Instagram account confirmed that she had died at 6.30am on Sunday with her loved ones beside her.
The statement described her as a beloved daughter, sister, wife, friend and inspiration to many, adding that she would be deeply missed.
Mageean’s death came just weeks after her marriage to Moran, her longtime partner, in an intimate civil ceremony in Belfast.
