The location of Michaela's final resting place is the Fitzsimons plot 166 A 8, St. Helens in Shanganagh Cemetery, Shankill, Bray, Co. Dublin.

Directions to our Michaela, when you enter the entrance gate, turn right, straight to the top (end of the main black railings), the 6th pathway, straight up to near the top on your left hand side.

Michaela's headstone will be completed on Tuesday afternoon, 8th April 2008.

To all our, and Michaela's friends, we hope you like it.
Love Ger, Jo, and Garreth, Jordan, Graham and Tess.

On behalf of Ger, Jo, Garreth, Jordan and Graham, we wish to thank the kindness, helpfulness and support of family, friends, the people of Bray and surrounding areas, there are too many names to mention in print. Thank you so much for all the emails that have been sent to us from all over the world, your kind thoughts are always in our hearts and will never be forgotten.

We would like to thank Garda Damien who gave the first assistance to our daughter.
His collegue contacted the ambulance service and with immediate response they arrived to assist at the harrowing scene. David Kelly, one of the paramedics who arrived at the scene, realised who she was, a relation of his own family. His professionalism as a paramedic took over as he assisted Michaela at the scene of the accident, who was still alive at that time. She was then rushed to St. Colmcilles Hospital in Loughlinstown, where the emergency unit continued the endavours of trying to revive Michaela. But due to unfortunate circumstances, and complications, it was not possible, and Michaela passed away.

We would like to thank all the doctors, nurses and specialists who tried so hard in the early hours of that morning to save our daughter.

Thank you so much Dave for everything you did, you were a rock when our family needed a rock.

We would also like thank the Garda Siochana from Bray and all the units involved in escorting our daughter to her final resting place, and everyone who paid their respects all along the route.

As her dad said in his poignant speech that morning of her funeral mass, please keep Michaela’s candle burning by visiting her bebo page and leaving comments, and keep our Dancing Angel in yours thoughts and prayers.

To quote a lyric of a song that strikes a chord,
“Come Back and Dance” (Sammy Davis Jr., Mr. Bojangles)
Love, Dad.

Michaela’s First Anniversary Mass will be held in St. Peter’s Church, Little Bray on Sunday 12pm mass 5th October 2008.

The Josephine Mahon School of Irish Dancing from Ireland has been left broken hearted and shocked after the loss of one of their dancers, Michaela Fitzsimons, after she died in a tragic accident. Michaela was a kind, caring, witty and extremely talented dancer and won numerous All Ireland and Celtic Championships. She was part of the Josephine Mahon School of Irish Dancing family for 14 years.
It was Michaela’s long term wish to dance in Riverdance and become an Irish dance teacher. She loved being part of her class teams and was dearly loved by them all. She always had time for everyone she met, young and old alike and was always in good humour and loved a bit of fun. Michaela was also known for her amazing rhythms that she could dance, and even nicknamed a pair of her hard shoes “chippie”. Following Michaela’s tragic passing, her loving parents Jo and Ger presented this well used pair of shoes to Josephine Fitzpatrick, her teacher and Sarah Mai her dance buddy, so they can travel with the dance school wherever they go in years to come. (This year Orlando, Florida, USA)
No matter where the school travelled Michaela was known and respected by all and if Michaela didn’t know them it didn’t take her long to get to know them. She kept everyone laughing and was known for her smile and her dancing eyes that were always so alive. Michaela loved life and lived it to the full.
Michaela’s friends and family gave her a heart wrenching send off at her funeral. The funeral cortège was escorted by a lone piper, Mr. Pat Fitzpatrick, and assisted by Mr. John Corchran, Knight of Malta Bray, while her dancing class formed a guard of honour in full costume, Sarah Mai Fitzpatrick danced to Michaela’s favourite piece of music on the Altar as Michaela was brought into the church. Josephine, her teacher and friend, carried up Michaela’s costume while Danielle, Chloe, Emma and Sarah Mai carried up her dancing shoes, pomps and her sash from the Celtic Nationals. Captain Keith Tate and Damien McCabe of Da La Salle Palmerston Rugby Club senior team presented her rugby jersey and an Eden Park rugby ball, which was presented to Michaela before release previously. De La Salle Palmerston Rugby Club was also represented by president Mr. Sean O’Neill and vice-president Mr. John Phealan. Also present were members of the youth section, whom Michaela served at the bar in the club house after all training had finished, after she herself had taken part in the training (Thank you to Tom McCormack). Previous dignitaries of DLSP rugby club also attended, including Karl Burke, Peter Lynch and Joe Kylie. Former presidents of DLSP rugby club were also in attendance. Loretto Bray also sang with heartfelt sympathy at the funeral mass, and the tribute mass that they also organised in Michaela’s memory in Holy Redeemer Church, Main Street Bray.
Michaela was laid to rest in her orange dance costume.
At the time of her passing, this talented young lady was due to compete with her class three weeks later in the C.A.I.D. Celtic Nationals in England and as a mark of respect Christine Sweetland and fellow teachers named the Under 17 Championship, The Michaela Fitzsimons Championship and presented her teachers with the cup Michaela had previously won and sash to be brought home to Michaela’s parents. The Josephine Mahon School are going to miss her so much, but she will always be in their hearts and in their memories forever, and they know that whenever any of them put their dancing shoes on, Michaela will be dancing along side of them.
God Bless Michaela, We love you and thank you for being part of our dance family. We were the privileged ones.
Slán, coladh sámh, Our Dancing Angel.

www.irishdancing.com