‘LARGER THAN LIFE’

Emotional scenes as Ann Delaney’s funeral hears homeless woman was ‘brilliant nurse’ who ‘loved adventures’

The funeral heard from Ann’s sister Roisin

• Published: 17:53, 29 Feb 2024
• Updated: 17:53, 29 Feb 2024

A HOMELESS woman’s funeral has heard how she was a “brilliant nurse” who “loved adventures” and was “larger than life”.

Ann Delaney, 47, from Dromagh, Crettyard in Co Laois passed away in St James’ Hospital in Dublin on Sunday, February 25.

When news of the homeless woman’s death emerged on Monday there was an outpouring of tributes, as many had seen Ann sleeping rough out on the streets of Dublin and, of late, on Aungier St in the city centre.

A vigil was held on Monday evening, where attendees sang and released balloons in her honour.

Ann’s funeral took place today in St Abban’s Church in Doonane, Co Laois.

A guard of honour from St Abban’s Athletic Club, in green, white and orange sashes, was provided at the church.

Beginning with the hymn ‘Be Not Afraid’, mourners heard how Ann had been an athlete in her youth, “even a champion athlete in some events”.

A priest told the congregation that Ann was “always a very outgoing person who loved life and was larger than life, always witty and funny and very empathetic”.

She was described as someone who “could be very flamboyant” and “loved all kinds of different adventures, from skydiving to hunting crocodiles on holidays”.

The funeral also heard how Ann was a “brilliant nurse” who worked abroad as well as in Ireland and who was “never one for material things”, as well as being a “born leader wherever she went”

The priest added: “If someone gave her something she would want to give them something back in return. She valued kindness.”

Ann became the “heart and the queen” of the local community in Dublin, which was reflected by the response to her death, he said.

Unanswered questions

Ann’s sister Roisin said her death, however, left many unanswered questions for the family.

She said they couldn’t understand why Ann “chose to live like she did” and it had been “incredibly frustrating and painful that Ann would not accept the help that so many people had offered her”.

She added: “Family, friends and professionals offered her as much support as they could, but sadly it was to no avail.

However, Roisin said the “outpouring of grief” for Ann “showed how loved she was and how she brought positivity into people’s lives though she was struggling herself”.

‘Family loved her’

She added that the homeless woman “always knew she had a home in Dromone and a family that loved her very much”.

Roisin also told how Ann’s daughter Saoirse, 17, was the embodiment of her mother’s “kind nature”.

Ann was buried afterwards in the cemetery adjoining the church.

Ann’s death notice states she was the “beloved daughter of Mary and the late Tom” and is “sadly missed by her loving daughter Saoirse, mother, brothers Thomas, John, Ciaran and Paul, sisters Siobhán, Tricia, Roisin and Emer, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, relatives and a wide circle of friends”.