Tributes paid to 'beautiful soul' Clare

Clare McFaul, of Magee Park in the town, passed away suddenly earlier this month after suffering a bleed on the brain.

Clare, who was 32, had previously had a stroke at the age of 11 due to irregular blood vessels in her spinal cord.

She underwent groundbreaking surgery at John Redcliff Hospital in Oxford to alleviate the condition, but was left with a weakness down her left hand side.

However, she refused to let ill health hold her back from her plans, returning to Irish dancing and transferring to grammar school at Garron Tower.

In later years, she went on to achieve a first in Business IT at Queen's University Belfast. "She gave everything 100 percent and wouldn’t be put off by something being difficult for her," said Clare's sister, Joanne.

"The past few years she had been attending personal training sessions in Larne with Andrew Falconer, who specialises in training people with injuries. Again she gave it 100 percent and her mobility and strength improved massively."

Clare had been shielding with her family since lockdown, but had spent her time learning Irish, the tin whistle and teaching herself to crochet, alongside making face masks for local carers.

"Her favourite things in life were her rabbit, dancing and having fun, especially with her niece and nephew," Joanne added.

An IT Analyst with Capita, she had also given her time to help her local parish, St MacNissi's in Larne. "Clare kindly gave of her expertise to design and build our website," a statement from the parish read.

"She spent hours working on it and at all stages wanted to ensure we were happy with it. Of course it was beautifully done and she was rightly proud of her work.

"Those of us who knew her were blessed and we must now think especially of her family who are grieving the loss of such a beautiful soul."

Staff at Just Active in Larne also paid warm tribute to Clare, "a member of our gym community and family".

"She was a great friend and an inspiration to all at the gym," a post on Just Active's Facebook page read. "Clare will always be in our hearts and remembered deeply."

Clare is survived by her parents, Roy and Anne Marie, and sisters Ciara and Joanne.

Her family requested that any donations in her memory be made to NI Chest, Heart and Stroke.

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