Kate Fitzgerald, PR Consultant Posted on November 11, 2023 by ticklesister
Note from Plan Ireland: Since this blog was first posted, Kate Fitzgerald has sadly passed away. Kate’s passion, dedication and creativity shine through her own words in the blog.
We remember Kate through these words; her hopes for strength through adversity, her gratefulness for opportunities she had been given, her endless dreaming, unselfish loving and her acknowledgement that small acts of kindness can be life changing.
Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
Kate Fitzgerald is a PR Consultant at The Communications Clinic. She is a former Chairperson of the US Democratic Party Abroad in Ireland (the youngest leader in the organisation at the time).
Kate was born in California to an American mother and Irish father, and spent much of her early years travelling. She studied International Relations at Dublin City University.
She is a dedicated runner, and ran the Women’s Mini Marathon to raise funds for the “Because I am a Girl” campaign in June.
Because I am a Girl I ask… “How can I be useful?”
Because I am a Girl I hope… That every day I crawl closer to becoming the woman my mother taught me to be – smart, gracious and kind. Above all of these things I hope I inherited her strength in the face of adversity.
Because I am a Girl I wonder… What the world would be like if every girl was given the opportunities that I was given.
Because I am a Girl I dream… Incessantly. Not all of my dreams are realistic. I probably won’t win the lottery any time soon. I probably won’t change an unkind person’s behaviour. I probably won’t change the entire world before lunchtime tomorrow. I probably won’t be able to afford that dress. But a girl can dream, can’t she? Besides, without my dreams, I would have nothing to aim for, and life would be unthinkably dull.
Because I am a Girl I remember… That I have more love than I could possibly know what to do with. And that loving unselfishly makes light of even the heaviest burden. Even if it takes a little while to get the hang of it.
Because I am a Girl I like…To stop occasionally and add up little acts of kindness others have shown me. These are often very simple gifts – a cup of coffee, a handwritten note, or change for the bus. They may seem little at the time, but when added up, they change the course of my day, and as a result, my entire life.
Because I am a Girl I dislike… How hard I am on myself, and how hard other girls are on themselves. We are our own worst critics. We all need to give ourselves a break.
Because I am a Girl I feel… Indebted to the women who suffered to pave the way for me to be successful. I also feel a duty to find solutions for those who will come after me.
Because I am a Girl I… Know that for as long as women have been women – mothers, daughters, sisters, employees, citizens – they have grabbed a hold of their own little corner of the world and tried to make it perfect. We are caretakers. We do not have time for self pity. We know what is most important in life, and we work tirelessly to guard it. For as long as our little corner of the world is ours, and those we love are depending on us, our strength knows no bounds. And because of this, we must support women around the world in guarding their own little corners.
- Kate Fitzgerald
Hey Kate.
Loved your blog, especially the ‘I dream’ - part, because that is so true. Dream and hope is two very important things, that we can never leave behind.
Beautifully written. R.I.P Kate. <3
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RIP Kate - Reading about you I get the impression the World really needed someone like you .. but now your Bright light has gone out & the World, your Family, your Friends will miss you so much .. very sad … a tragedy.
A caring loving person you were and such a loss to this world that has lost its way , if everyone cared , loved and thought so much like you did ,what a better world we would live in. RIP
I never heard of you before today but your words have touched me and now you are gone. May you rest in peace gentle Kate.
Beautiful words Kate, tears rolling down my face
As a sufferer of depression myself I can understand the dark hole that Kate was in but as a sister of a near suicide brother (twice) I also see and have experienced the fear and trauma that it brings to family and friends. There is such a fine line between living and dying when you’re in that dark place and all you want is for the pain to stop. On the outside no one would know that i’m a depressive person because i’m so cheerful and bubbly but on my own that dark character often appears, thankfully medication and close family and friends keep me well and in control of my very precious life. I’m so sorry for Kates family and friends and what they’re going through.
Kate Fitzgerald R.I.P.
Since you’ve posted your blog, your style, your beauty and your ability to hit the nail square on the head, have made many many people sit up and take notice.
I’m believe I can probably speak for the choir when I say that we will all try our very best next Friday and Saturday nights at the Eccles Hotel to do you proud at the concert …. but you will be sorely missed. Rest in peace Kate.
I only heard of your tradgic story on Sat night when your parents went on the Saturday Night Show. In my heart I understand why you did it, I myself many years ago wanted to do the same but something stopped me Thank God. To your Parents and Brother I offer my condolences and wish from the bottom of my heart that there is something I could say or do to ease their pain, but that is not possible. You had a wonderful spirit, a very caring and touching personality, and you are now at peace. I hope your good work will be continued by many. God rest you. K
What a remarkable human being we had in Kate Fitzgerald. Even in the depths of her own suffering and feelings of isolation and fear, her heart and intellect compelled her to reach out to others, to write to the newspaper she trusted, and appeal to us all for a different way of being with one another.
Having just read her story today, I feel she hoped to influence our thinking and change the culture of our relationships. If we could find in ourselves a capacity for understanding and love for those feeling lost or vulnerable, there would be no awkward silences, we would ask questions, provide comfort, and name the mind-and-heart-sickness that torment and drive some of us to suicide. Then everyone would know that they belong, and are cherished. We have understood your message Kate. May it bring about the change you so greatly desired.
It angers me that for a brief moment we reconcile our behaviour and take a quiet moment to pledge a better understanding for what it really means to be alive and to show kindness. The world won’t change, maybe it can’t, maybe it should not. All I know is that there are many people like beautiful Kate and many of them will take their lives and others will live unhappy ones. This is the hallmark of modern society. It is the reason for such alcoholic dependency in our country. It has no room for pity or understanding. The only change we can truly make is to society itself, tear it up and start again. Do it right this time.
What a God damn waste of such a valuable life. Love & Light* Kate. x
AUTUMN LEAVES.
______________________
THE END OF AN EMPIRE
MERCURIAL SEASON,
TAKE BACK THE FRUIT
EPHEMERAL FLOWER.
THE CRUEL FACED BREEZE,
OMNIPOTENT GUSTS LEND ANXIOUS FATE
WITH DELIBERATE LESSON.
STILL REASSURED IT SINGS,
“YOU BEING ALL OF ME,
OUR WINTER EMBRACE,
A DANCE IN THE WIND”.
Anon
God Bless ya Kate, if these “social and communicative” facebook times is any good for anything your final message and article will spread through friends worldwide.