The funeral of the late Edna O’Brien will take place in her native East Clare this weekend.
The acclaimed Clare-born writer Edna O’Brien has died at the age of 93 in London after a long illness.
Born in Tuamgraney in East Clare, Ms O’Brien has been described as a “leading light for a generation of Irish writers, and her loss will have a profound impact on the Irish literary scene.”
Formerly of Drewsborough House, Tuamgraney, Edna passed away peacefully on July 27th at Belgravia House, Halkin Place, London.
Her funeral will arrive in Tuamgraney this evening where she will lie in repose from 5 pm with prayers at 8 pm.
Funeral Mass on Saturday, August 10th, 2024, at 11 am with burial afterwards in Holy Island on Lough Derg. The funeral may be viewed live here…
Edna had expressed her wish to return to her home parish of Tuamgraney and the church where she was baptised for her funeral service, her family said.
Her nephew Michael Blake told RTÉ’s Drivetime radio programme that she wished to buried on Holy Island, the ancient monastic site on Lough Derg, where her grandparents are buried.
Books of condolence for Ms O’Brien were opened online as well as physical books at Clare County Council headquarters, Áras Chontae an Chláir in Ennis.
Another book has been available at the public library in Scariff where Clare County Council hosted an event to officially mark the renaming of Scariff Public Library to the Edna O’Brien Library in May this year.
That event was attended by members of the local Blake family. The event was officiated by Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Joe Cooney, and was attended by Cllr Pat Hayes and other County Clare elected representatives.