Woman found dead in Waterford had recently relocated to Ardsallagh, locals say

An opera enthusiast and active community member, Noreen Daly had recently begun a permanent move from Dublin to west Waterford

Noreen Daly: 'She was a lovely, friendly woman.'

The woman whose death is under Garda investigation in rural west Waterford had only moved permanently to the area about eight weeks ago, according to a local councillor who had come to know her in recent years.

Noreen Daly, believed to be in her 80s, was found dead at her home in Ardsallagh, near Youghal, shortly after 2pm on Monday.

A man aged in his 30s was arrested on Tuesday as part of the investigation and is currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a garda station in the South Eastern Region.

Waterford Fine Gael councillor Pat Nugent, who became acquainted with Ms Daly through his council work, said the property had served as a holiday home for her and her late husband for many years.

“Noreen’s husband, Michael, who hailed from Dungarvan, died a few years back,” he recalled. 

“There were no children and recently Noreen had started the process of selling their property in Dublin and moving permanently to Ardsallagh.” 

Mr Nugent said Ms Daly was a well-liked member of the local community.

“She was a lovely, friendly woman,” he said.

“She was also a wonderful singer with a strong interest in opera. She attended events at the recent Blackwater Valley Opera Festival.

“She was very sociable and will be very much missed in the local community.”

Ms Daly was originally from Grenagh in Cork, where she is understood to still have family, though she had not lived there for some time.

Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central Colm Burke said: “It’s really sad that someone has died this way, to have lived their life then find it suddenly ended by a tragic event.

“My sympathies go out to her immediate family and to everyone who knew her - it’s difficult when something like this happens to get the appropriate words, but it is really sad that someone in this stage of her life would have it brought to an end this way.” 

'She would not like to be described as elderly'

Noreen Daly: 'She would not like to be described as elderly.'

Clashmore and Kinsalebeg Community Council paid tribute to the late Ms Daly in a Facebook post:

"Noreen and her late husband, Michael, had a home in Ardsallagh overlooking the Blackwater for the last 25 years. After Michael's death in 2023 following a long illness, Noreen spent more time in Ardsallagh and earlier this year sold her house in Dublin to live here permanently.

"She was very much involved in the local community and got involved in Traditional music, Blackwater Opera Festival, Ardmore Choir, Tai Chi, Clashmore exercise classes to name just a few.

"Noreen was 81 but she would not like to be described as elderly.

"She saw this move as the next stage of her life where she was going to carry on exploring and learning. Every day involved meeting her friends and doing new things.

"She was a kind, caring, and generous person who loved her and Mike's extended family. All who knew her will feel this loss for a very long time."

'A very friendly, sociable woman'

Ms Daly was also a member of the Youghal Active Retirement Association (YARA).

Association secretary Frank Down described her as “a very friendly, sociable woman who attended many of our events”.

“All our members are deeply saddened and upset by her passing and the circumstances surrounding it,” he said.

Nicholas Lenane first met Daly through singing clubs and Irish language classes held across west Waterford.

“She was hugely encouraging, hugely warm. I would call around to her for tea, and she would give me a book.” 

Mr Lenane said he had only recently moved back to west Waterford and would sometimes become plagued with doubt about his future. Whenever those doubts arose, he said Daly was on hand with “a wise book” to bestow on him.

According to Mr Lenane, “go for it” was a mantra Ms Daly lived by.

“She was involved in everything, had a great look in her eye, if she looked at you and said something, she meant it.”

Gardaí investigation

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told the Irish Examiner that the coroner and the Office of the State Pathologist have been notified, while the services of the Garda Technical Bureau have been requested to assist with the investigation.

Ms Daly was pronounced dead at the scene, which has been preserved for forensic examination.

It is understood the arrested man is a local resident of the Ardsallagh area.

Following the incident, passersby in the area were asked by gardaí to remain alert for any suspicious activity.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out, and the results will assist investigating gardaí in determining the course of their inquiries.

A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the investigation, and an incident room has been established at Dungarvan Garda Station.

A Garda family liaison officer has also been appointed to support the family of the deceased woman.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone who was in the Ardsallagh or Youghal Bridge areas in recent days.

“Road users with camera footage, including dashcam recordings from the area, are also urged to come forward,” the spokesperson said.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Dungarvan garda station at 058 848600 or the garda confidential line at 1800 666 111.” No further information is available as investigations are ongoing.