Tracie Lawlor - An Appreciation by Tim O'Connor

Every now and again a force of nature, somebody quite simply beyond the ordinary, walks into your life. That's what happened to me in November last year when I met Tracie Lawlor for the first time. The occasion was a Lunch I was hosting for the Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team in my then role as Consul General of Ireland.

As we all know, Tracie was an honoree at last year's Dinner and my Lunch was part of the festivities of Dinner week (you know how it happens - Bill Broderick says "Tim, you're hosting a lunch" and I go "oh, ok Bill"!) Well, that Lunch brought me more than I bargained for. This slip of a girl with the beautiful smile from the heart of rural Wexford just has a way of getting into your soul. She certainly got into mine. And has stayed there.

Two weeks ago, exactly 50 weeks after I had met her for the first time, we buried Tracie Lawlor in a beautiful cemetery on the edge of Wexford Town.

Beautiful 24 year old girls should not die. But that was Tracie's lot. She knew it last year when we met. Who can forget her standing on the stage in the NYAC, singing "The Rose", accompanied by her hero, the legendary Phil Coulter, and she telling us all in her gentle voice, "I may not have a long life, but thanks to all of you, I had a good life".

It was very difficult to get Tracie Lawlor. Information just did not stack together. Here was this beautiful young person, so full of life, so full of energy and ideas, so full of plans. And yet at the same time, a sentence of death stalked her every day. As she excitedly talked to you about what she intended to do and achieve - and to whose achievement you enthusiastically committed yourself as a partner - you realised she probably would not be around to see that plan actually happen. But that never put Tracie off. And she forced you to ensure that it did not put you off either.

And so over the last 50 weeks, Tracie and I kept in close contact. She told me about her plans to take on the Higher Diploma in Education at University College Cork, the qualification for High School teachers in Ireland. And fair play to Tracie, she did. (By the way, my sincere thanks to Maura Grant in President McAleese's Office, Aine Hyland, former Vice President of UCC and Sr Sheila Kelleher, Principal of the Presentation School Cork for helping make Tracie's dream come true in that regard.) Typical Tracie, she did brilliantly at the teaching, and made a huge impact on all who met her in her short, final months in Cork.

We discussed music - she was very charitable to me about my song-writing, reassuring Phil Coulter that he had nothing to worry about and gently encouraging me to stick to the day job! She and her family visited the House of the President, Aras an Uachtar in in Dublin, and met President McAleese, my Boss. The President, herself a remarkable person, was deeply impressed with Tracie and sent a warm letter of condolence to the family two weeks ago on Tracie's passing.

Often Tracie and I communicated by text. One exchange in particular I will always remember. She texted me asking if I had seen the newspaper account of the first Irish full lung transplant. I texted back that I had and excitedly asking if it had implications for her. She texted back saying no (ie it was to late for her). I replied "I am sad to hear that as I care about you", to which she responded - and I will never forget this - "and I care about the others". That was Tracie. Always thinking of others. Always taking the positive path.

Tracie's funeral a few weeks ago in Castlebridge, Wexford, was a remarkable occasion. The huge crowd, of all ages, drawn from far and wide, bore testimony to the phenomenal impact this 24 year old had made in such a short life. A large delegation from the Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team travelled from New York, led by Bill and Susan Broderick. Phil Coulter and his wife Geraldine were there and Phil performed a couple of beautiful pieces - Tracie would have been thrilled - and spoke movingly about Tracie and her short life. Aussie Collins spoke from the heart about the huge impression Tracie had made on him. And at the heart of the whole occasion was her remarkable family - Ian, Phyllis, Brian, Joseph and all the extended clan. When you get to meet Ian and Phil, and indeed Joseph and Brian, you begin to get a sense of why it is that Tracie was so remarkable. They are truly wonderful people.

But even they would be the first to admit that even they did not fully get Tracie Lawlor, their own daughter and sister. So it was left to Bill Broderick to try to make some sense of what it was all about. In a wonderful eulogy at the funeral, Bill went to the heart of the mystery by asking "Who was this amazing person, Tracie Lawlor?". Because in the end, I think Tracie Lawlor has to remain a mystery to us. An extraordinary creature who came among us for a brief while, left and indelible mark on us all, and then was gone. But my strong belief is that her spirit remains with us. Encouraging us, inspiring us, cajoling us. If she were able to face the challenges that she had to every day and do so with such fortitude and grace, then we must find a piece of that as well. Tracie Lawlor may be gone in body, but her spirit will undoubtedly live on in the hearts and minds and souls of those of us privileged to have known her.

Finally, it was clear to me two weeks ago sitting in that Church in Castlebridge just how huge a role the Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team had played in the life of Tracie Lawlor. Bill, Joe, Phil, Mama Jordan, all the other tremendous people behind this Charity - you can be proud of the contribution that you made to the life of this remarkable Irishwoman. Those of us from Ireland thank you from the bottom of our hearts. But the work is only beginning. There are so many other children and young people who need our help. Tracie would be the first to remind us about how vital it is to keep up the effort.

As we gather for the 2007 Dinner, it could be said that the shadow of Tracie hangs over us. I would prefer however to see it another way - Tracie's light shines down on us. More than anything she would be asking us all to re-double our efforts. And she would be reminding us of her own words - "and I care about the others". Have a fantastic evening folks. But remember why we are here.

Tracie Lawlor,1983-2007, i leaba na naomh go raibh sí. Thank you for coming among us and touching us with your grace. Rest in peace now. My deepest sympathies to your family and friends.