PICTURES: Limerick girl’s memory lives on in Valentine’s Day ball

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VALENTINE’S Day and Martina Lynch’s birthday went together like Cupid and a bow and just like the Roman God, she brought so much love.

Martina, known to one and all as Tina, from Ballyneety, would have turned 30 on February 12. Tragically, she was taken from her parents Martin and Mary, and sisters, Michelle, Melissa and Marion, extended family and many friends, unexpectedly at just 14 in 2008.

She had a rare condition called MPS but Tina never let it define her.

Her family and friends organised Valentine’s Day memorial balls in 2018 and 2020 for Tina with funds raised going to the MPS Society, the only registered charity providing professional support to individuals and families affected by MPS.

Following an enforced Covid break, the third ball in Tina’s memory took place in the Greenhills Hotel on Saturday night.

Her mum, Mary, said Tina’s birthday was February 12 so it almost coincided with Valentine’s Day.

“She always loved fairy stories and Cinderella going to the ball and she loved dressing up. That was the whole idea behind it,” said Mary.

“The first time we had the ball was on her 10th anniversary which was six years ago. In 2020, we were hoping to make it a biannual event, but then Covid hit. So it actually coincided with her 30th birthday this year,” she added,

Mary said they had a brilliant night with about 150 family and friends from Ballyneety, County Limerick and some of their MPS family in Kilkenny, Dublin and Meath.

“We actually have an amazing group of friends and family. We didn't really want to make it sad, we wanted to make it a celebration of her life. She would have loved to have been stuck in the middle of it,” said Mary.

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It was an opportunity to remember how full of life Tina was and how much packed into her 14 years.

“As time goes on we have only realised how unique she was. One of my sisters, Noreen Cusack said that she can still bring so many people together sixteen years after her death,” said Mary, who wished to thank all the local businesses in Ballyneety and surrounds, who helped to sponsor the night, the Greenhills Hotel and family friend Geraldine Haigney who helped to organise the ball.

Gerlaldine said: “As long-time friends we are always there for each other, through the good times and the bad.”

It is planned to make the Valentine’s Day memorial ball a biannual event, all in the name of one very special young lady.