‘Annabel’s Kingdom’ dedicated to memory of ‘our little star’

A new play area at St Joseph’s National School, Rathwire, has been dedicated to the memory of Annabel Loughlin, who passed away in November 2018. Annabel was three and a half and would have been due to start school at St Joseph’s last September.

On Friday last Annabel’s parents, Enda, a former county hurling star, and Eileen, a teacher at the school, and their two sons, 16-year-old Senan and TJ, who is almost nine, gathered with members of their extended family to visit the new play area. Eileen’s parents, William and Eilish O’Driscoll, and Eileen and Enda’s sisters, nieces, nephews and grandnephew, Billy, were present.

TJ was delighted to be given the job of naming the new play area and he chose ‘Annabel’s Kingdom’ because his little sister imagined herself as a princess living in a castle. Local artist, Carol O’Malley has festooned the walls with a fairy castle and lots of stars because Annabel’s favourite song was Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Eileen expressed her great appreciation for all the kind and thoughtful ways people have helped to keep Annabel’s memory alive. She explained that the project was mooted last year, but was stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the meantime, a Pink Day was held at the school on Annabel’s anniversary last November when students were invited to don something pink and the proceeds were used to fund the construction of the new play area.

A fundraising Annabel’s All Stars Hurling tournament was organised last year by Eileen and Enda with the support of a committee. Hurling clubs from all over the county along with Ballyboden/St Enda’s from Dublin took part in a seven-a-side tournament. Star guests on the day included Henry Shefflin and Conor Moore.

The event raised €44,500 for Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Mullingar Regional Hospital Paediatric Unit and Ben’s Life Line. Senan and TJ were sporting their Annabel All Stars jerseys for last Friday’s event.

Eileen spoke of how Annabel was looking forward to starting “Mammy’s school” with her brother and her mother, who has taught at St Joseph’s since 2004, first in the old school beside Rathwire Church and now in the impressive new modern building on the outskirts of the village.

Annabel loved attending dance classes held at the school in September and October 2018. She also attended the playschool run by Enda’s sister, Mary Dunne, Steps Ahead in Cloughan. The playschool created a memorial wall and planted a tree in Annabel’s memory.

In the community where Enda and Eileen live, their neighbours also created a tranquil space with a bespoke bench and planted a pink cherry blossom tree in her memory. Annabel also has a beautiful pink bench in her memory in Clonkill, where she used to watch her father and brothers play hurling; the bench was made by Michael Maher of MFab Engineering.

Senan is a former pupil of St Joseph’s and TJ still attends. Both are following in their father’s footsteps, playing hurling for Clonkill and football with Delvin and The Downs.

Eileen and Enda are mindful that they are not the only parents to suffer such heartbreak and have always been keen to remind people going through similar experiences that some of the greatest supports for them is for people to “Keep talking”. They say that mentioning Annabel’s name keeps her alive for them.

They both say they feel Annabel’s presence remains in their home, her bedroom is still hers, her toys still next to her brother’s, her pink wellies still next to the door. Pictures of her with her friends and family are about the house and Enda says goodnight to her every night. The couple are expecting their fourth child later in the year.

Sé McCarthy is principal of St Joseph’s, which has 280 pupils and 32 members of staff. He explained how the garden area was previously an unused part of the school yard, but it has been transformed into an exciting space with the support of parents and the wider school community. He is looking forward to seeing the play area filled with excited junior infants in September.

Mr McCarthy praises Eileen and Enda for their strength and for the way they always strive to reach out to help others.