‘She never forgot her roots’ – hometown tributes to Ciara Mageean

The Olympic gold medal winning athlete Ciara Mageean has been described as “selfless” by staff from her former school.

Mageean, from Portaferry in County Down, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in May 2025.

She died on Sunday morning, surrounded by her loved ones, a statement posted on her social media accounts said.

Marcelle Orsi, vice-principal of Assumption Grammar School, said the loss will be felt “by so many for many years to come”.

“Everybody was so devastated and heartbroken with the news of Ciara’s passing,” Orsi said.

“She left 16 or 17 years ago but was a great advocate for all the sport here.

“If you think what we try to develop and foster within our own students – commitment, dedication, tenacity, compassion – Ciara Mageean was an Assumption girl through and through.”

Orsi added that the school will remember Mageean as “the smiling, bubbly vivacious girl who was always willing to help anybody”.

“That selflessness was there right to the end,” she told BBC News NI.

She said Mageean will always be remembered in the school, with her photos displayed in the corridors.

“She lived and breathed this school and it was only fair we showed how proud of her we were. She brought us so much.”