Priest leads tributes to Portaferry teenager

Priest leads tributes to Portaferry teenager

23 September 2020

A PORTAFERRY teenager who died a year after being seriously injured in an accident has been described as an “inspiration”.

Sixteen year-old Ellie McDonnell was laid to rest last Thursday after her funeral service at St Patrick’s Church in the town.

The Down High School student was a highly talented show jumper, who had won prizes at shows throughout the UK and Ireland.

Members of Down High School’s equestrian team and the North Down Hunt formed a guard of honour. Also among the mourners were staff and pupils from Down High and St Columba’s College in Portaferry.

Also present were representatives from Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, a charity which played a big part in her life. Leading the cortege was a horse box containing her “devoted ponies”. On the way to the church the cortege stopped for a time at her stables.

Ellie suffered serious injuries in an accident at her family farm last July. She was riding a quad bike which collided with a 4x4 vehicle driven by her mother on a blind corner on the lane leading to her home.

She was taken by the Air Ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where she spent eight weeks, two of them in a medically-induced coma.

Ellie made a remarkable recovery and went on to become a devoted fundraiser for the Air Ambulance.

Addressing mourners in the church, Fr Feargal McGrady, parish priest of Portaferry and Ballygalget, said Ellie’s “miraculous” recovery from the accident was due to the strength and determination which followed her throughout her life.

Fr McGrady said Ellie was inspired by the work of the Air Ambulance service and had plans to study medicine, become a doctor and work for the charity.

He described as “extraordinary” a twilight walk organised by Ellie which raised £28,500 for the Air Ambulance.

“Ellie raised great awareness of the necessity of the Air Ambulance and people in this part of the world know how crucial that is and how vital it was in saving in lives such as her own,” he remarked.

Fr McGrady said Ellie’s death at the age of 16 was “not natural”.

“We gather around today for Ellie’s funeral. We should not have to do so, but here we are,” he said.

“Ellie was 16. It’s not natural for us to see a loved one die in the spring time of life. Ellie died full of hope and promise and, in many ways, fragrant with innocence still.”

Fr McGrady spoke of Ellie’s love for horses, remarking that she attended her first horse show when just six days old.

He said she achieved numerous victories, including at Balmoral Show, Dublin Horse Show and the Highland Show.

“She grew up and was a loyal member of the Northern Area of the National Pony Society and spent her summers competing and making lasting friendships along the way, which is so obvious this morning,” he continued.

“Fox hunting was her passion and she thrived at the adrenalin rush and the freedom of the open fields and galloping horses, jumping fences alongside the master up front with the hounds.

“Ellie loved her school life and the wonderful friendships that grew there as well. She studied hard and achieved top grades. “She was passionate about her family and loved attending family events.”

Fr McGrady added: “Ellie has certainly left behind a very big footprint on our lives. We have had the privilege of knowing Ellie for 16 years. 

She brightened us, she enriched us while she walked among us and through her own love of life, lived to the full. She will be with us still in new ways.”