Family of tragic Newbridge woman Maxine Maguire (25) call for improvements to mental health services with fundraising event this weekend
By Kim O'Leary
The family of Newbridge woman Maxine Maguire (25) who tragically passed away last year will celebrate her life and love of music with a special musical gig “A Night in Memory” which will take place in Newbridge this weekend on Saturday, April 21.
Maxine Maguire tragically passed away on Tuesday February 7, 2017 and she is deeply missed by her loving family and a wide circle of friends. The upcoming event is being organised by Maxine’s close friends with the aim of celebrating Maxine’s great love of music as well as to raise funds for better mental health services.
Speaking to the KildareNow, a close friend of the family Laoighse Ni Cheallacain said: “Her amazing friends have organised a night to celebrate her life at Bru House, playing all her favourite music. So far the support has been amazing, her family are overwhelmed with the support and determined to make changes within the mental health sector. Awareness is paramount to her family’s agenda, they don't want another family to bare their grief.”
Maxine’s heart-broken mother Kathy Maguire recently penned a moving tribute to her daughter by setting up a gofundme page to campaign for better mental health services in Co Kildare and across the country. The Maguire family is also looking into raising €10,000 to obtain an independent export report into Maxine's death.
In a statement, Kathy Maguire said: “Maxine really wanted to help people but was unfortunately failed by the people who are supposed to help us - our health system. She was a very educated woman and after completing her honours degree from Maynooth University, she was studying for her MA (Masters) in Child Youth & Family studies. Maxine really wanted to help people but she was unfortunately failed by the people who are supposed to help us-our health system.”
Maxine’s mother Kathy added: “Suicide is all too common now and yet is still not treated with the importance it needs, playing second priority to physical illness despite it being oftentimes more crippling and dangerous than a physical one. The government needs to listen, act and bring the mental health service up to date. Our community and other communities all over Ireland have been tragically affected by suicide and too many young lives not given enough of the right help to keep living.”
Meanwhile, Fianna Fail TD for South Kildare Fiona O’Loughlin recently raised the plight of families affected by mental health issues as she discussed the Mental Health Amendment Bill (2) (2017) in the Dail. Deputy O’Loughlin said: “Maxine was failed by our country’s mental health system and she was forced deeper into her illness than she had ever been before and this is not an isolated case. The message for suffers out there is to talk and reach out, but in Maxine’s case this was not enough.”
All proceeds from the event on Saturday will go towards efforts to make changes to the way mental health emergencies are handled in Irish Hospitals.
DJ DEECE will be playing anything and everything from R&B/Hip-Hop to Disco/House from 10pm at the Bru House in Newbridge and tickets cost €10 at the door on the night with booking in advance optional.
For more information and to donate visit https://www.gofundme.com/making-a-change-in-memory-of-maxine
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