Mother from Cork embarks on ‘final journey’ back to Ireland after tragic death in Australia

A young mother from Cork will make her “final journey” back to Ireland this week following her tragic death in Australia.

Aileen Wilkinson, 32, lost her life in a “tragic event” that occurred on Wednesday, August 21, just a month after giving birth to her daughter Rosa.

Ms Wilkinson had worked for a time as a nurse at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne.

Mrs Wilkinson leaves behind her partner Marco and her daughter.

Her obituary reads: “Aileen Wilkinson, Riversfield, Dwyer's Road, Midleton. It is with great sadness that the family of Aileen announces her death. August 21, 2024, unexpectedly in Melbourne, Australia.

“Devoted mother to baby Rosa and loving partner to Marco. Appreciated Daughter of Mary and Eddie and beloved sister of Cristín and Eoghan.

“She will be sadly missed by her brother-in-law Mark and niece Ruby Robyn, her grandmother, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends at home and friends and colleagues in Melbourne. May Aileen rest in peace.”

The young mother will make her final journey home from Australia to Midleton this week and will lie in state at O'Farrell's Funeral Home, Riverside Way, Midleton. Further details are to be confirmed by the returning family.

Only flowers are requested from the family. Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so to the Kevin Bell Trust, which “has been a huge help in assisting the family in repatriating Aileen to Ireland.”

Ms Wilkinson's family expressed “their sincere gratitude” to the Irish Australian Support and Resource Bureau for coordinating arrangements in Melbourne.

People who knew Ms Wilkinson had set up a GoFundMe page with the aim of bringing her back to Ireland and “preparing things for Rosa's future”.

The fundraiser's goal was AUD 80,000, but at the time of writing, over AUD 110,000 had already been raised.