The loss of people in Ireland from Covid-19 has been a huge tragedy for many families and communities, and some have left behind legacies both nationally and internationally.
Those who died include a Dublin woman who helped raise thousands of euro for charity, and a missionary priest who set up Amnesty International in Hong Kong.
Fr James Hurley SJ died after contracting Covid-19 on Easter Monday, he was 93.
An avid GAA fan, he was born in Ardmore, Co Waterford in 1926, and was one of four children.
Fr James Hurley entered the Jesuits in 1944, and spent over 50 years as a missionary in Hong Kong.
The loss of people here from Covid-19 has been a tragedy for many families, with some leaving behind legacies nationally and internationally. They include a Dublin woman who helped raise thousands for charity, and a missionary priest who set up Amnesty International in Hong Kong pic.twitter.com/AG90kaW8ve
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) June 19, 2020
His nephew, Dick Lincoln described Fr James as a very sociable man who was really interested in people, their problems and in their joyous occasions too.
A human rights advocate, Fr Hurley supporting the student movement in Hong Kong. He was also one of the founders of Amnesty International in the city.
His nephew says he befriended lots of people in Hong Kong and China, which was reflected from all the good wishes that came from there and further afield.
He returned to Ireland in 2014, after he became quite ill.
Mr Lincoln says that when his uncle came back with him from Hong Kong, about a hundred people came to see him off at the airport, chanting hymns and saying prayers.
He says that he was speaking to his uncle the day before he died and described him as being in good form.
Sadly he died on Easter Monday in Cherryfield Lodge nursing home in Ranelagh, Dublin.
Fr Hurley's funeral has been shared on YouTube and have had thousands of views on YouTube.
He was buried in Ardmore Round Tower Cemetery, Co Waterford.
Susan O'Neill from Balally, Dublin died on 20 May from Covid-19. She was being treated for cancer when she contracted the virus.
Her sister, Lorna, says Susan was a really outgoing person who was always there for everyone. She had three children and three grandchildren whom she idolised.
Lorna says Susan did a lot of charity work and raised a lot of money over the years for Barnardos, The Simon Community amongst others.
Lorna says she and her sister were extremely close and there was not a single day they were not in touch with each other.
She says last November Susan was diagnosed with leukemia and while she was getting treatment for cancer she contracted Covid-19.
Lorna says it was very hard not to be able to be with her sister in the last few weeks of her life.
She was on a ventilator for about 16 days before she passed away.
She says they could not hug each other and she would have loved to have been there in the end to hold her hand, but it was not possible.
As listeners to RTÉ's Liveline programme heard a few weeks ago, Susan left a letter for Lorna for her to read after she died.
She says the letter has helped her get through the past few weeks and has helped her every time she feels lonely.
Lorna plans to frame the letter and says it is one of the most precious gifts her sister ever gave her.
