Portaferry meant everything to Ciara Mageean - on Sunday they will honour their most cherished daughter

When Ciara was 15, she discreetly set a running challenge for the Portaferry seniors that they could never surpass.

NICE TRIBUTE: Ciara Mageean’s husband, Thomas, and her father Chris are presented with a jersey by Portaferry manager Conor O’Prey. Picture: Portaferry GAC

At a brunch in the Portaferry GAA club last Sunday, the club’s senior hurlers presented a jersey to Ciara Mageean’s husband, Thomas, and her parents Catherine and Chris. The jersey was passed on to the hurling squad by Ciara’s alma mater, UCD, before being presented to Ciara’s husband and parents by Connor O’Prey, the Portaferry manager.

The pain felt by everyone in the local and wider public at Ciara Mageean’s sad passing has been particularly acute in the Portaferry community, especially the GAA club. The Mageean family home overlooks the pitch and clubhouse, the playground and arena where Ciara first learned her trade as a sportsperson, especially as a camogie player.