THERE was widespread shock in Tullamore when news came from Cork of the tragic death of a former resident of the Offaly county town.
Emine Ertas Gokbel (34), had been living in Tullamore with her husband Cagdas Gokbel as a refugee before moving to Midleton a couple of years ago.
The mother of one was found dead unexpectedly on Sunday, April 26 in Midleton.
The couple’s only child, a son Larkin Ulash, was born in August last year.
Emine and Cagdas had arrived in Tullamore from Turkey a number of years ago and were accommodated in a direct provision centre in High Street prior to their attainment of refugee status.
READ NEXT: Panel for important meeting on future of Tullamore’s town centre revealed
The couple became well known in the town. Cagdas, a journalist and writer, contributed remotely to news outlets in his home country along with the Tullamore Tribune.
Emine worked for a time as a translator with the National Driver Licence Service and though their integration was hindered at first by the Covid-19 pandemic, they both grew to love Tullamore, its people and its Grand Canal in subsequent years.
They had fled persecution in their native country. Both were committed to human rights, especially those of workers, and when their only child was born following the move to east Cork they named him Larkin, in honour of the early 20th century Irish labour campaigner Jim Larkin.
They settled in Midleton, Co Cork where a brother of Emine’s ran a well established restaurant in the town centre, Gusta Pizza & Grill.
While in Tullamore they became friendly with the local Presbyterian church minister, Rev William Hayes, and he led a prayer service in O’Farrell’s funeral home, Midleton on Wednesday where Emine was in repose.
Rev Hayes extended the sympathy of all in Tullamore to Emine’s husband Cagdas and their son Larkin, as well as Emine’s extended family.
He prayed that Jesus would help carry the great burden placed on all, especially Cagdas, by the sudden passing of Emine.
In an address to those paying their respects, Cagdas described his late wife as a republican who believed in equality and he thanked everyone for their support, mentioning his great affection for Tullamore and its community.
In addition to a steady stream of sympathisers from the Midleton area, some of those who knew Emine from their time in Tullamore were present.
Emine Ertas Gokbel, Riverside Estate and Gusta Pizza & Grill, Connolly Street, Midleton and formerly of Turkey, mother of Larkin, is mourned by her husband Cagdas, parents Lalihan and Salih, and siblings Sabriye, Nazmiye, Zeynep, Alex, Zach, Hulya, Yadigar, Sukriye and Binefs.
Her death notice also said she is missed by other family members, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family in Ireland and Turkey, and her friends from the breast feeding group at Midleton GAA Club.
Emine’s funeral will take place in Turkey, the country the family feared returning to because of the possibility of arrest.
A GoFundMe account to raise funds for Larkin Ulash’s future has been set up by a family friend, Mehdi Ozcinar.
In the GoFundMe appeal he wrote of how Emine cared for and helped others but behind her smile she was struggling in silence: “After giving birth, she faced severe postpartum depression, something too many mothers endure alone. Like so many women, she felt pressure to appear strong. She carried the weight of motherhood, being a refugee, being far from family, and trying to meet impossible expectations.”
There have been many tributes to Emine, including one from the Marian Centre, Tullamore which said: “We at Marian are so sad to hear this terrible news. Cagdas, from all of us please accept our deepest sympathy, we were very fond of Emine.”
