Aoife Bird: Tributes paid to teacher who died the day after her baby daughter passed away
A new mum died within 24 hours of her baby daughter passing away.
Tributes have been paid to Aoife Bird who died from a “sudden illness”, surrounded by her family, the day after her baby died.
Baby Ailbhe died on Tuesday last week and the mother died the following day, said funeral directors PJ Darby in a death notice.
Their announcement said: “It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Aoife Bird (née Oates) on the November 26 and baby Ailbhe who passed away on November 25, following a sudden illness surrounded by her heartbroken family at the Regional Hospital Mullingar.
“Sadly missed by her loving husband Jim and baby boy Daithí, her devastated parents Peter and Margaret, sisters Siobhan, Aisling and Róisín and brother Shane, mother-in-law Veronica, grandparents Micheal and Kathleen, brothers-in-law Ryan, Jack, Charley and Lee, nephews and nieces Beth, Anna, Tadhg and Rory, aunts, uncles and all the wider Bird, Oates and Freeman families plus all Aoife's many heartbroken friends and colleagues in Ashbourne Community School.”
Aoife lived in County Meath and grew up in Waterford.
A statement from Ashbourne Community School said: “It is with profound sadness that we share this message with you. We have received the sad news of the sudden death of our esteemed colleague, friend and Spanish, Business and SEN teacher Ms Aoife Oates and her daughter Ailbhe. Our thoughts and prayers are with Aoife's husband Jim and the extended family. May their gentle souls Rest in Peace.”
Her widower Jim - the couple were married in 2023 - is a teacher at the all-girls Catholic secondary Scoil Mhuire in Trim, County Meath. A message posted on that school’s website says: “It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the passing of Aoife and her newborn baby Ailbhe, beloved wife and daughter of our teacher Mr Jim Bird. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jim and his mother Veronica Bird, our school secretary. We are supporting our school community during this time of immense sorrow and grief. May their gentle souls Rest in Peace.”
Aoife’s funeral is at 11am on Tuesday at St Brigid's Church, Boardsmill, Trim, County Meath. One person paying tribute in the funeral directors’ book of condolence said: “So difficult to comprehend. The void that your girls leave behind will never be filled . All the precious memories you have will give you some comfort over the difficult times ahead.”