Mayo town mourns the passing of primary school teacher

Tributes have rushed in following the death of Natasha Warde.

She passed away peacefully at the Mayo Hospice surrounded by her loving family.

Family friend Colmán Ó Raghallaigh remembers Natasha as an infant, along with her twin sister Aisling “being wheeled in a little buggy by their mother coming around the corner of their shop at the square. Their mother was was beaming with delight. It's a very poignant memory now out of what has happened.”

“Natasha was exceptionally popular. She was a primary school teacher who was known for her great sense of humour, her great kindness and her great intelligence.

 “It's a double tragedy for the family and for the community, in that her father had passed away just a few weeks before her. Both Natasha and her father were highly respected and prominent members of the community in Claremorris.”

The former primary teacher from Claremorris was described as Sinn Féin’s “brightest new prospect on the local scene in Mayo” when she very narrowly missed out on a seat for the party in the 2019 local elections.

READ MORE: Warde happy to lay down marker for next campaign

She is fondly remembered by Sinn Féin Cllr Gerry Murray, he says: “She was extremely well able, very well liked, very popular. She had all of the great attributes to be a public representative. She had strong interpersonal skills and was very engaging and very passionate about our own hometown, particularly, and obviously about the county in general. And she had very steadfast Republican principles. I think she would have been a potential TD.”

Speaking to The Mayo News in 2019, Natasha said: “The goodwill I got from every side and from so many people at the count on Sunday evening completely took away the initial disappointment with people being so nice from all the parties and saying ‘well done’ to me on my performance.”

The South Mayo Darts League were among those to extend their condolences: “The committee extend their deepest sympathy to the Warde family on the passing of Natasha. May she rest in peace ”

Knock Drama Group wrote: "Our deepest sympathies to the Warde family on the passing of their beloved Natasha, may her gentle soul rest in eternal peace ." 

She is reposing at Gilligan’s Funeral home Market Square, Claremorris (F12YP74) this evening (Thursday) July 10 from 6pm-8pm and her Funeral Mass will be held tomorrow (Friday) July 11 at 1pm in St Colman’s Church Claremorris with burial afterwards in St Colman’s Cemetery.

Natasha was daughter of Ann Warde and the late Greg Warde. She is survived by her brothers Michael, Patrick, Colman, Gregory, sisters Nina and twin sister Aisling, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces and extended family members and friends.

Natasha’s funeral mass can be streamed on St Colman’s Church YouTube channel.