Son learns of tragedy after leaving for Oz

Patricia Kierans’ son, Shane, had just disembarked from a plane to London, the first stopover on his long journey to Australia, when the crushing news came that his mother had been found dead in the family home in Co Cavan.

Within hours, the 22- year-old was back in Ireland, standing in the family living room, stunned as neighbours and friends lined up to shake his hand and offer their sympathies. Just days earlier, they’d slapped his back and wished him well with his new life down under.

Over the weekend, he’ll be joined in the family home by his brothers Oliver and Gerard and sister Julie, who all grabbed the next available flights to Ireland when they heard the shocking news. They’d all been looking forward to welcoming their baby brother to Australia, little expecting that they would instead reunite in Bailieborough to bury their mother.