The death of Muirín O’Briain, Vice-President of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI), occurred on 27 May 2007. Though she had suffered a long debilitating illness, her death was unexpected. She was universally liked and respected, and her many friends were greatly saddened by her passing a short time before her 59th birthday.

Muirín played a prominent part in the Irish Genealogical Congress committee over the years and served from 1997 to 2001 as secretary of the Ireland Branch of the Irish Genealogical Research Society. During that time she played a pivotal role in creating the now annual IGRS Open Day. She joined in 1995, and in December 2006 she became its Vice-President. One of her genealogical interests was in identifying the Burgess ancestral line of her famous grandfather Cathal Brugha. She liked murder mysteries and re-reading the works of Jane Austen. Her social conscience made her a long time fundraiser for Concern.

Muirín was a very special person. She bore her illness without complaint, and her unassuming and gentle ways won her the admiration of all whose lives she touched. hosted a Mass for her friends on 4 July 2007 at which 600 Euro was raised as a donation to Concern in her name.

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