Karen Buckley to be remembered at exhibition

KAREN Buckley, the 24-year-old Cork nurse murdered in Glasgow earlier this year, will be remembered at an exhibition next month.
‘Angels for Karen’ will be launched on December 9 at Kilmallock Library, as part of an international campaign, 16 Days of Action Opposing Violence against Women.
Karen’s maternal aunt, Eileen Hurley, is a member of the Kilmallock Women’s Group and the other members wanted to show solidarity to her and to Karen’s family, while raising awareness of the issue of violence against women. The group are making clay angels in memory of Karen, from Mourneabbey, who was murdered during a night out in the Scottish city earlier this year. Alexander Pacteau, aged 21, was given a minimum 23-year life sentence.
Margaret O’Connor, community support worker, said the Kilmallock group have taken part in the 16 Days of Action Opposing Violence Against Women for the past number of years. She said Eileen, who is from Effin, near Charleville, has been a member of the group for many years.
“Eileen kept coming to the group. She is very open, and talked about Karen. We didn’t know her, but we feel like we do. It had a different effect on people in the group.” Margaret spoke to Eileen and Karen’s family and they were happy for the group to do something in memory of the young nurse.
They will also take part in the One in Five Women Balloon Action, which is being promoted by Women’s Aid. They will release five balloons, four purple and a single white.
The white represents the one in five women in Ireland who experience domestic abuse. The balloons are a message to women who are experiencing abuse that they are not alone, and that people in their communities support them.