Northern Ireland

Tournament held in memory of Co Antrim five-year-old who died from rare disorder

Maggie Black died on December 1 after becoming unwell at her Glenarm home. Seven months on, it has now been revealed she died as a result of a rare disorder called Addison's Disease
Maggie Black died on December 1 after becoming unwell at her Glenarm home. Seven months on, it has now been revealed she died as a result of a rare disorder called Addison's Disease

More than £35,000 has been raised in memory of a five-year-old girl who died as a result of a rare disorder.

Maggie Black died on December 1 after becoming unwell with stomach pains at her Glenarm home in Co Antrim.

The family waited 70 minutes for an ambulance.

Maggie was taken to Antrim Area Hospital where she died.

In the aftermath of her death, her family launched a petition, Maggie’s Call, which called for the fire service to also be automatically dispatched to emergency medical calls in rural areas.

A pupil at St John’s PS in Carnlough and a member of the U6 team at St John’s Camogie Club, Maggie was helped by members of the fire service on the morning she became unwell.

While the service is up and running in Carnlough, it has not yet been given the green light elsewhere.

Seven months on from her death, Maggie's family have revealed that the young camogie player died as a result of Addison's Disease.

The rare disorder means the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, do not produce enough cortisol.

The condition is most common between the ages of 30 and 50, and is rare in young children.

Following Maggie's death, the community has been fundraising in her memory.

So far, £36,000 has been raised and it is planned that the funds will be donated to the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance and The Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership.

Speaking to The Irish News, Sheenagh Black said the funds had been raised as a result of "the community coming together".

"We had all the vigils away back at the start and donations in lieu of flowers," she said.

"There were cakes sales and coffee mornings, a walk to the lake in Carnlogh, people we work for donated and the local lions club has donated money.

"We are so touched and so blown away with the generosity and kindness of everybody in what they have done and how they are remembering Maggie.

"Whenever Maggie passed away, one of my biggest fears was that she would be forgotten. Our community is keeping her memory and spirit alive".

The Co Antrim mother said the family had decided to donate some of the funds to The Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership because of the "work that they do".

"What they say is make rare more aware," she said.

"It was just totally shocking to know she (Maggie) had been living with this condition but had no symptoms.

"We want people to be aware of this condition, especially in young children".

The mother-of-three was speaking as a Gaelic tournament in memory of Maggie is taking place this week in Carnlough.

The Maggie Black Tournament brings together around 120 girls and boys from St John’s Camogie Club in Carnlough and Shane Ui Neill GAC in Glenarm as well as others from further afield to participate in camogie and hurling akin to a mini All-Ireland.

With matches all week, the final will take place tomorrow with the winners being presented with the Maggie Black Memorial Cup.