Hundreds Gather in Portaferry for Funeral of Olympian Ciara Mageean

Hundreds of mourners gathered on Tuesday in Portaferry, County Down, for the funeral of European 1500m champion and two-time Olympian Ciara Mageean. The runner died on Sunday following a diagnosis of stage four bowel cancer, less than three weeks after marrying her long-term partner, Thomas Moran.

The requiem Mass took place at St Patrick's Church after a cortege proceeded along Ballyphilip Road from the athlete's family home. Attendees included Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan, 1972 Olympic gold medallist Lady Mary Peters, and representatives sent by Irish President Catherine Connolly and the Irish Government. A guard of honour was provided by members of her local club, Portaferry GAC, and pupils from her former school, Assumption Grammar in Ballynahinch.

Father Martin Kelly, who knew Mageean from childhood, delivered the homily during the afternoon service. He recounted visiting her in a hospice shortly before her death, where she insisted on walking alongside him despite her illness. The order of service included a photograph depicting her winning moment at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome.

Mageean competed for Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 Games in Tokyo prior to securing gold in Rome in 2024. She also claimed a silver medal representing Northern Ireland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Health officials note that primary indicators of bowel cancer include persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, and severe fatigue associated with anaemia.

Written by Sandy van Dongen sandy.vandongen@alpineweekly.com