'A perfect neighbour': Woman found dead in Sligo named locally

Officers attended the scene at a house in the town shortly after 8.30pm last night.

Garda tape at a crime scene. Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Neighbours of a woman found dead in “unexplained circumstances” in Sligo town on Monday have expressed their shock and sadness at her sudden death.

The woman has been named locally as mother-of-two Angela Canavan, originally from Mayo but she had been living alone at St John’s Terrace in the town for the past six or seven years. 

She was believed to be in her late 50s.

The woman's body was discovered at her home shortly after 8.30pm on Monday evening with gardaí attending the scene. 

Ms Canavan’s remains were removed from the scene at midday for a post-mortem examination to be carried out by the State Pathologist at Sligo University Hospital a short distance away.

The Garda Technical Bureau have carried out a technical examination at the scene.

A Garda spokesperson said the results of the post-mortem will determine the course of their investigation. They added that investigations are ongoing.

'A perfect neighbour'

“She was a very quiet lady,” said next-door neighbour Ann Byrne, who added that one of Ms Canavan’s two adult sons had been visiting her on Monday. 

“She was always walking her dog. I saw her yesterday morning. We heard nothing last evening until we saw the ambulance and the Garda cars. You’d never hear a sound from her, she used to give us sweets and we’d throw logs in over the wall to her. She was a perfect neighbour,” she said.

“She was a lovely person. She loved doing the garden,” said another elderly neighbour who did not wish to be named. 

“I saw her on St Patrick’s Day with her daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. I saw her yesterday after 2pm with her dog,” she added.