#songfortri: Young girl's final wish granted by singer Ed Sheeran

A young girl’s dying wish was today granted by her idol, singer Ed Sheeran.

UPDATE: Triona Priestly passed away this evening.

Fifteen-year-old Triona Priestley was terminally ill and in the final stages of her battle with cystic fibrosis.

Friends of Triona started an online campaign to contact the singer over the weekend, with a host of well-known personalities also joining the movement.

Thousands of messages were sent to Sheeran’s Twitter account using the hashtag #songfortri which trended in Ireland on Mother’s Day.

As the anxious wait for a reply continued during Sunday night and into Monday, her classmates in Castleknock Community College gathered to sing for the transition year student.

This afternoon, the singer rang Triona and spoke to perhaps his biggest fan — making her final wish come true.

Friends of the young Dubliner took to Twitter to express their relief that her wish was granted and to thank Sheeran.

@edsheeran thank you so much for calling Tri, she will be so happy. She told me one of her biggest dreams was to talk to you 💛❤️ #songfortri

— song for tri (@sinead8700) April 1, 2014

Even prior to speaking with her idol the campaign brought a little joy to Triona, according to a tweet sent by her mom.

YES THIS IS ALL I WANTED TO HEAR! Love you Tri #songfortri @edsheeran @StuartCamp pic.twitter.com/HHtLGKfRSj

— song for tri (@sinead8700) March 30, 2014

In 2012, Triona also featured in a Christmas video for Temple Street Children's Hospital.

Her most recent tweet, sent on March 28, reads: “My heart is in pieces.”

My hearts in pieces

— Trí⚓ (@trionaaa) March 28, 2014

Sheeran’s kind gesture raised her spirits as she reached the end of her brave fight.