Tributes have been paid to a UCC arts student who collapsed and died while working as a waitress at a popular restaurant in Douglas in Cork city over the weekend.
Deirdre Lynch (20) of Browningstone Park in Douglas was working at Eco’s restaurant at 5pm last Saturday when she became ill. An ambulance was called and Deirdre’s mother, Maire, went to the scene to accompany her daughter to hospital. Deirdre died shortly after at Cork University Hospital surrounded by her family members.
There have been suggestions that it could be a case of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (Sads) but the cause is still being investigated.
David Halpin, manager of Eco’s restaurant, said he was deeply saddened by the loss of an employee who had impacted positively on so many people during her short life.
“It is devastating for everyone, particularly the manner in which it happened. She was talking one minute and the next she collapsed. When somebody that age collapses you think it is epilepsy or diabetes. You don’t think it is her heart. You don’t expect this.” Eco’s closed its doors on Sunday as a mark of respect to the Lynch family.
Promising student
Deirdre, who was a part-time model and finalist in this year’s UCC’s Next Top Model competition, was a former pupil of Christ the King Secondary School in Turners Cross, Cork. A spokeswoman for the school said they were “devastated” at the loss of one of their most promising former students.
She is survived by her parents Kevin and Maire and her older sister Kate. Her removal will take place today at 7.30pm from O’Connor’s funeral home on the Boreenmanna Road, Cork to the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Ballinlough. Requiem Mass will take place tomorrow at 11am and the funeral will proceed to St Michael’s cemetery in Blackrock, Cork.