ABOUT RACHAEL
My name is Amanda McConville, and this is my beautiful daughter Rachael who sadly was taken from us in a tragic road traffic incident at the age of 11. There is no doubt that such a tragedy alters your life forever. However, the aim of this website is not to focus on the negatives, but rather celebrate her short life, and if possible offer hope and help to others facing a similar situation.
Rachael was a ‘typical’ girl, she loved clothes and loved shopping, and I loved buying her clothes. She knew exactly what she liked and what she didn't like. She always looked beautiful no matter what. I used to enjoy plaiting her hair she was so pretty I just loved looking at her.
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She loved her younger brothers Shea and Oran and her daddy Paddy so
much. She also enjoyed sleepovers, having her friends around
and having fun. A very happy child so full of life.
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She passed for grammar school and despite being the
youngest in the class settled down well and enjoyed it,
making lots of new friends.
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Rachael liked playing jokes on people she was so full of
mischief and that's what we loved about her. A truly
wonderful and special child.
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Your child is such a special gift from Heaven so everyone
should cherish and love their child with all their hearts.
Appreciate all of their gifts and talents whilst you can
because everyone of them is so gifted in so many different
ways. Everyone of them is unique and wonderful and it is
them who come to teach us what life is really about. We
can so easily lose track of what life is about so it is our
children who come to help us see again all we have to do
is listen.​
I hope this insight into Rachael has been helpful, and to all parents out there who have lost a child all I can say is that the grief and pain does get better over time because it is part of you now and you learn to control the pain it doesn't control you anymore. You never ever get over the tragedy of losing a child. How could you but you somehow begin to learn how to cope and accept it and this is what enables you to begin to live again. For myself and my family we have found happiness again. It will never ever be the happiness we once knew as part of us all left the day Rachael left. But the way we look at things now is what would Rachael want? Would she want us to be happy or miserable the rest of our lives? I know what the answer would be so that is why everyday we Honour Rachael by simply doing the best we can. We try to stay positive and we are grateful for everything in our lives especially for having Rachael for those 11 years. That is what Rachael and all our loved ones want for us and so for them we should live our lives the way they would want us to. This is definitely not easy and at times can be such a struggle but you will get there and you will eventually feel at peace. There is a lot of amazing help and advice out there for Bereaved parents and siblings so I have listed a few of the organisations which I feel will definitely help on Rachael's help and advice page. But always remember to trust and believe in your loved ones they will help and guide you. All you have to do is ask.
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Love