THE PASSING of a 14 year-old Bray girl in deeply tragic circumstances has been met with deep shock and sadness in the locality.

News of the untimely death in Courtown of Michaela McGrath, daughter of Eileen McGrath, and Eddie Loveridge of the Boghall Road, Bray, broke on Sunday.

Michaela was a former pupil of St. Fergal's National School. Her teachers remember her as a 'bright, bubbly, happy young girl'.

At the time of her death, Michaela was a third year student at Gorey Community School. She moved to Gorey with her mother and brother Edward just over two years ago. Gorey Community School principal Michael Finn said that the loss of Michaela was deeply felt in the school, and he expressed the sympathies of everyone at the school with her parents and her brother.

In 2008, Michaela was named as one of the merit award winners in the 12-13 years category of the national Texaco children's art competition.

Michaela's funeral mass takes place on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. in St. Michael's Church, Gorey, and she will be laid to rest afterwards in the local cemetery.

- Mary FOGARTY