RIP: Clare native dies after sudden brain hemorrhage while holidaying abroad

What was meant to be an opportunity to reconnect with relatives has turned into an unimaginable nightmare for the family of a Clare native who has died after suffering a brain hemorrhage on holiday.

Maura Heffernan, who had been living in Templeglantine, west Limerick sadly passed away on Sunday night after suffering a brain bleed last Thursday while on holidays in Alberta, Canada.

The 65-year-old had set off on the trip of a lifetime to visit family in Canada but, tragically, suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage just six days into her holiday.

The holiday was to surprise her daughter Karen and her grandchildren Aaron, Darren and Susan. Maura was due to stay in Calgary in Alberta for another three weeks. 

Stephen Curtin, Maura's son-in-law flew to Canada with Maura and his wife Helen.

Last Thursday, after hearing noises when they woke up, they ran to find Maura in the bathroom. At the time, they believed she was having a stroke because she had no speech. "The holiday of a lifetime turned into a holiday from hell," Stephen said this Monday. "At eight in the morning we were awoken to hear Maura," he added.

He explained that two hours later, they were informed that Maura had suffered a brain bleed on both sides of the brain. The Kilkee native didn't have any underlying conditions that the family are aware of and had been cleared to travel by her doctor as she underwent surgery on her back last year. 

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The family are very shocked by Maura's passing and Stephen said they're unable to speak about it. He described Maura as a "superstar" and a "brilliant" person.

Following Maura's sudden medical episode last week, the family set up a GoFundMe explaining "unfortunately, she will not recover from this".

"As you can imagine with rising costs of the hospital bills, bringing her home and to give her the best send off that she deserves, we are making this plea to help us make this happen," the GoFundMe page reads.

To date, over €30,000 has been raised but the family have set a target of €50,000 to help return Maura home.

Maura was a huge fan of music, particularly Gary Barlow and Take That and had gone to see them in concert in Musgrave Park in Cork last year.

She was a shop steward at the Kostal factory in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick for over 20 years before her retirement last year and had lived in Templeglantine for over 20 years. 

Maura Heffernan née O'Gorman is survived by her mother Mary O'Gorman, husband Gerard Heffernan, four children Helen Curtin, Dominic Heffernan, Karen O'Connor, Lynda Mulvihill and Colin Heffernan and many grandchildren.

To donate to the GoFundMe click here.