Tribute to Kiltimagh fire victim as 'wonderful character, very witty'

A 93-year-old retired nurse died in yesterday’s (Monday) house fire in Kiltimagh in which one of her brothers was injured.

Mary B. (Beatrice) McNicholas was pronounced deceased at the scene of the domestic blaze at Cordarragh, on the outskirts of the Co. Mayo town.

Her brother, Oliver (Ollie), who lives in a separate section of the dwellinghouse he shared with his sister, was hospitalised at Mayo University Hospital as a result of smoke inhalation.

The tragedy has shocked and saddened the Kiltimagh and wider community.

“Mary B. came from a well respected and popular family,” local county councillor John Caulfield said this afternoon.

He added: “She was one of a family of ten who grew up in the Treenagleragh area, not far from Kiltimagh.”

Ms. McNicholas, who was single, trained as a nurse in Britain before returning to Ireland to work in a Dublin hospital.

She moved home to Kiltimagh following her retirement.

A relative today described Mary as 'a lovely lady and an excellent nurse'.

He continued: “She was very private in her ways but was a wonderful character, very witty.”

Mayo Fire Services were alerted to the blaze mid-afternoon on Monday by local gardaí.

The property where the deceased lived separately from her brother was extensively damaged.

A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out today at Mayo University Hospital.

A file is being prepared for the local coroner and an inquest will be held in due course.

Gardaí do not believe there is anything suspicious about the fire incident.

However, they have sealed off the property for the purposes of a full investigation.

No arrangements have been made for the funeral but a local undertaker has been chosen.