Shock at sudden death of Portlaoise hospital nurse

THE sudden death of a popular Portlaoise hospital nurse has devastated her family, friends and colleagues.

Assistant director of nursing Mhairi-Clare Cairney Flood, known as Mhairi, died suddenly at her home in Portarlington on Wednesday.

A mother of two small children, she was highly regarded by patients and staff at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise (MRHP) as a very kind, caring and dedicated nurse, who enriched the lives of everyone around her.

Many colleagues expressed their shock and grief on social media following the announcement of Mhairi’s sudden death on 15 July.

One colleague wrote: ‘You were one of the funniest and most easy-going nursing admins at MRHP and it was truly a pleasure to have worked with you. Thank you for the laughs, your kindness and the warmth you brought to those around you. You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.’ 

Another said: ‘Absolutely devastated to hear this. One of the nicest, kindest, funniest nurses I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. Many, many shifts brightened just by her being there. Fly high Mhairi - a devastating loss for MRHP and specifically the emergency department.’ 

Originally from Airdire, Scotland, Mhairi was an experienced and extremely dedicated colleague at MRHP, where she was appointed assistant director of nursing in December 2022.

It is another devastating loss for MRHP, coming just four months after the death of much-loved emergency department (ED) nurse Joe Dunne from Ballyfin last March.

A resident of Na Cluainte in Portarlington, Mhairi’s death notice states: ‘Sadly missed by her loving wife June, son Euan, daughter Autumn, parents Peter and Anne, brothers Daniel and David, sister Kathleen, sister-in-law Laura, brother-in-law Mark, niece Grace, nephew William, mother-in-law Carmel and Mick, stepfather Stephen, stepmother Helen, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, neighbours, many friends, work colleagues at MRHP and her dogs Lola and Sadie.’ 

Reposal at Maher’s Chapel of Rest, Portarlington this Sunday from 5.30pm, with prayers at 8pm will be followed by removal on Monday morning, arriving at St Paul's Church, Portarlington for Funeral Service at 11am. A private cremation service will take place afterwards.

The family asked that donations be made to the Friends of Portlaoise Hospital, in lieu of flowers.