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A Book of Remembrance

Eilís McCaughan

Professor Eilís McCaughan 1963-2020

 

Eilís McCaughan was a highly respected and valued member of Ulster University’s School of Nursing.  She led the ‘Cancer Care’ research group and throughout her clinical and academic career, was passionate about making a lasting and positive impact on the lives of people living with cancer.  Eilís’ world leading research on maximising sexual wellbeing in prostate cancer led to the development of evidenced-based resources for healthcare professionals, patients and partners.  These resources are now routinely used in clinical practice nationally and internationally.

Eilís was not only an exceptionally gifted academic, but she was also a valued colleague, mentor and friend.  She drew immense joy and satisfaction from her work with PhD and early career researchers and took great pride in supporting and shaping the next generation of cancer care practitioners.  Eilís had a natural talent for bringing people together.  She had a great sense of humour and was such fun to be around! 

Sadly, Eilís’ academic interest in cancer was also to become her reality.  Eilís never wanted to be defined by her cancer diagnosis and bore her illness with courage and positivity and latterly with acceptance and grace.   She continued to work and to provide help and support to others right up until the last few weeks of her life.  Sadly, Eilís passed away on 6th November 2020 leaving behind her devoted husband Kader and their three children, Roisín, Yasmin and Ciarán. 

Eilís’ loss casts a grey shadow over Ulster University and the wider cancer research community.  The School of Nursing has lost someone very special, but Eilís lives on in our memories and in the legacy of her extraordinary life and work.

 

FIRST MORNING

By Joy Harjo

This is the first morning we are without you on earth.

The sun greeted us after a week of rain

In your eastern green and mountain homelands.

Plants are fed, the river restored, and you have been woven 

into a path of embracing stars of all colors

Now free of the suffering that shapes us here.

We all learn to let go, like learning to walk

When we first arrive here.

All those you thought you lost now circle you

And you are free of pain and heartbreak.

Don’t look back, keep going.

We will carry your memory here, until we join you

In just a little while, in one blink of star time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Owner: Ulster University, School of Nursing

Book Size:  200 Messages

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Helen Dolk

Dear Kader and family, My deepest sympathy to you for your loss. Eilis was one of those rare people who lights up a room and fills the space with positive energy. What a truly wonderful person at the centre of your family. She managed to balance an intense interest and joy in her family, with an intense commitment and joy in her work. She really made a difference. With love, Helen…
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Donna Fitzsimons

Eilis you are a treasure, a beautiful person – inside and out – fascinating, smart, wickedly funny, gentle, curious, grounded, challenging, inspiring……… You will live on in all that you role modelled, in all that you taught us – and we will do our best. One thing for sure, we will not meet your like again. Sending love at a time of immeasurable suffering to Kader, Roisin, Yasmin and Ciaran as well as Betty, Aidan, Kevin, Ciaran and Niall and your extended family and friends….
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Helene McNulty

My heartfelt sympathies to Kader and the Parahoo and McCaughan families at this time of great sadness. My condolences also to Eilis’s colleagues and friends throughout the University and to all who knew her in the wider communties in Portstewart and Ballycastle. She was a such a lovely person, friend and colleague, who achieved so much in her professional and personal life. She will be greatly missed, but never forgotten. Rest in Peace, Elis with my deepest sympathies, Helene …
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Professor Colum Walsh

So sorry to hear of Eilís‘ passing after her brave struggle with illness. She was such a warm and friendly colleague and I remember her great work from Northern Ireland regional cancer meetings that we helped to organize. My thoughts are with Kader and her family on this sad occasion, but I hope they they are comforted by the thoughts of the great good she did while she was with us. From Colum Walsh and family …
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Shauna Harte

Dear Kader and Family – my sincerest condolences on the passing of Eilís. Anytime I met Eilís in the corridors, she always had a beautiful warm smile and hello.  Thinking of you all….
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Roger Anderson

Dear Kader, So shocked and saddened to hear of such a great loss to you and all the family. We’ll be praying for you all as you grieve and come to terms with life without a dear wife and mother. kindest reagrds Roger…
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Tony Bjourson

To Kader and all the family – I was really sorry to hear of Eilis’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family – Eilís always had a welcoming smile and a pleasant greeting any time I met her. …
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Julie Sittlington

I am very sorry to hear of your loss. I only knew Eilis to see, passing her in the corridor and she always had a warm smile….
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Julie McClelland

To Kader and family. I was so sorry to hear of Eilis’ passing.  She was always a warm and friendly face around the Coleraine campus and was always happy to stop for a chat.  …
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Lisa Hanna-Trainor

To Kadar and family, My lasting memory of Eilis will always be her beautiful smile and her wonderful sense of humour. Eilis had a way of instilling calmness when she spoke to you. I am so very sorry for your loss and you will all remain in my thoughts and prayers. Eilis was an extraordinary lady, taken to soon. But her memory will always be cherished by those of us who had the pleasure to know her. May she rest in peace. God Bless you all.  …
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Julie-Anne Little

To Kader and all the family, I was so sorry to hear of Eilis’s passing.  She was such a kind and graceful lady who always took the time to say hello and give a smile or a word of encouragement.  …
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Carol Curran

I find no words to adequately express my sorrow on the passing of my dear friend and much-loved colleague Eilís. When I joined the University many years ago Eilís was one of the first people to befriend me. I have so, so many lovely memories of the times we shared where her amazing laugh always featured. She would often pop her head around my door in Coleraine and we would grab a coffee. I will miss those times. I think Eilís had the most amazing gift of when she was talking to someone she always made that person feel that they were the only thing that mattered to her at that time. This is a rare gift. We will continue to feel her loss in the Faculty for many months and years to come, yet what is our loss compared to the sorrow of Kader, and their children Roisín, Yasmin, and Ciarán, to say nothing of her Mum and brothers? Kader, we will continue to wrap around all the support that we can and please know that you are all so much in my thoughts and prayers. …
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Mary Ward

Kadir My sincere condolences to you and your family. I have a lovely memory of sharng a table with Eilis and one of her her PhD students at a PhD awards ceremony last year (while one of your daughters was babysitting i think!). She was so proud of her student’s success and there was great fun and banter around the table, so many will have benefited from her excellent mentorship. A true lady. Mary…
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Maria Lohan

Dear kader and family,   Eilis was the first person to welcome me to Northern Ireland and that made a big difference to me. Having accepted the post in Queens, but before joining, we met at a Men’s Health Conference in Wexford at the FerryCarraig Hotel. Of course I had heard of Eilis but to meet her and to hit it off together so nicely just made me feel welcome in ‘the North’ and was just a key moment in helping me believe that the move would go well. I was expecting my first child at the time – a good few months in – and i remember her saying how that it had to be one of the nicest times in your life ….and you might be a bit tireder with your second. When that came to pass, I remembered her words so well. We sat together the whole time at the conference and smiled and exchanged and nudged each other along to engage in the big plenary session questions – there were quite big names that came to Wexford! I also remember thinking how pretty she was and i have always thought that ever since when I…
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Pat McCleland

It is so hard to believe we are paying tribute to Eilis who has always been so vibrant, full of life and fun. She was a wonderful warm, caring person who loved her family so much and also passionately strove to improve the care given to patients and to help professionals improve their knowledge and ability to improve services to patients with cancer. We will all miss her so much. My sincere condolences to all of her family and friends. Pat …
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