It was a typical Friday morning during the school holidays when Eileen Loughlin heard a ‘loud bang’ from the living room where her daughter Annabel was playing.
The Irish influencer’s three-year-old had hit her head, and to the disbelief of her loved ones, by the evening of that same November 2018 day, Annabel was no longer alive.
‘It was a normal Friday morning, and then, all of a sudden, there was an accident in our home. I heard a loud bang in our sitting room, and from there, our lives changed forever.’
Annabel, whom her mother described as having ‘great character’ and being ‘full of adventure’, was airlifted to Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Dublin, immediately after the accident to receive treatment for the ‘severe trauma to her head’.
Five hours later, Eileen, her partner, and their two sons expected the doctors to call them in and say that the youngest member of their family was fine, but medics delivered the unimaginable news.
‘They said Annabel is going to die, and you need to say goodbye,’ Eileen recalled on Ireland AM seven years after the tragedy, continuing, ‘She was there that morning and gone by the evening.’
‘Annabelle was our gorgeous three and a half year old girl. She was full of adventure. She was a great character, a real sociable little girl.’
The pain that followed was immense, but it was through her other children, two sons and a girl – born after Annabel’s passing – that she found the motivation to carry on.
Lifestyle influencer and primary school teacher, Eileen Loughlin (pictured), has discussed the tragedy of losing her daughter, Annabel, three
Eileen, a lifestyle influencer and primary school teacher, said, ‘Anyone going through grief knows it’s really difficult to watch the world continue.’
‘It was great for us having the boys, you had a focus, you had to get up, and we consciously said, We need to lead by example, we need to show them that it’s ok to live our life.
‘We always remember her, we always talk about her, but you can still go out and live your life.’
While she admitted that she felt a ‘huge guilt in the beginning’, Eileen later came to a different realisation. ‘You honour them by living. Not all of us get tomorrow, Annabel didn’t, so get up and make the most of it.’
Eileen has since written a children’s book with the hopes of keeping her daughter’s memory alive.
‘I’m a primary school teacher and I’m a mother, so I have spent hours and hours reading children’s picture books, and I love just the imagination and the creativity – I love them,’ she said.
‘So it just came to me that I would write one in memory of Annabel.’
The book, Annabel’s Adventures At The Beach, is based on Eileen’s memories of her daughter and some of the days out they enjoyed as a family.
Annabel (pictured), three, tragically died after suffering ‘severe trauma’ to her head in November 2018
‘Inspired by the beautiful life of our precious Annabel, this heartfelt children’s book captures the essence of her curious spirit and boundless imagination,’ the website explains.
‘Through gentle storytelling and enchanting illustrations, readers join Annabel on magical journeys that remind us all to find wonder in everyday moments.
‘Each page is lovingly written and illustrated to reflect Annabel’s joyful approach to life – her fascination with the seaside, her kindness to all creatures, and her ability to find magic in the ordinary.
‘Though Annabel’s physical journey with us was brief, her story continues to inspire children and grown-ups alike.’
The mother said while on Ireland AM, ‘She only had three and a half years to make her mark, and I feel like we can continue to keep her memory alive.’
‘It was a huge worry in the beginning, but now I know, seven years on, that she will be remembered by so many people.’
Following the book’s release, Eileen has read the book to children at Annabel’s former play school, which her youngest, Isla, now attends.
Taking to Instagram, the influencer said, ‘It’s been such a special few weeks sharing Annabel’s Adventures at the Beach with little readers!
‘I had the absolute honour of doing a book reading in Isla’s play school…the very same one Annabel went to. It was incredibly poignant and meant more than I can put into words.
Then, I got to visit Boher National School for another reading. It’s such a joy seeing the children so engaged, and they loved sharing their own beach stories.’
While Annabel’s parents and brothers appear in the children’s book, Eileen also added a butterfly illustration on each page of the book in a sweet nod to her youngest daughter Isla, who was born after Annabel’s tragic passing.
Eileen now speaks publicly about her journey of grieving and has helped other parents through bereavement.
One year after Annabel’s funeral, Eileen and her family also hosted Annabel’s All-Stars, a hurling tournament that helped raise funds for various charities, People reported.
