Alanna loses her brave battle against cancer

(Above) Alanna Lenehan with her mother Lael.

Tributes have poured in following the sad news earlier today that Rhode teenager Alanna Lenehan had lost her brave battle against cancer.

A statement posted on the Facebook page Alanna's Journey to Recovery revealed that the popular 16 year old, who was a student at St Joseph's Secondary School in Rochfortbridge, had passed away at 7.45am this morning “in her mother’s arms surrounded by family”.

As soon as the news of Alanna's untimely death emerged, tributes started pouring in from her large circle of friends and the wider community. At the time of writing almost 440 tributes had been left on the Facebook page in the space of five hours.

Lainee Hanrahan cared for Alanna in Temple Street this summer. She said that Alanna “is  exactly as her dad described, a firecracker”.

“Sending you love, light and strength, may her beautiful soul rest in peace x.”

Nicole Gorry thanked Alanna “for being the most supportive and loving best friend my little sister could ask for”.

“You have touched so many hearts, you’ll always be in our thoughts,” she said.