Laura Bernal (diplomat)

American diplomat

Laura Bernal (1956 – 26[a] April 2020) was an Argentine diplomat. She served as Argentina's ambassador to Ireland from 2016 until her sudden death in 2020.[1] She was present in the country for her compatriot Pope Francis's visit to Ireland as part of World Meeting of Families 2018.[2]

Bernal was from Buenos Aires.[3] She died at her Rathmines[4] home on 26 April 2020 and was found post-mortem[5] to have contracted COVID-19.[2][4][5] At the request of her sister and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bernal's body was not repatriated.[5] Her funeral took place on 15 May at St Michael's parish church in Foxford and she was buried afterwards at nearby Craggagh Cemetery.[2][5][6] Foxford is where Admiral William Brown (who founded the Argentine Navy) was born, hence this choice.[5] As well as her sister, Bernal was survived by niblings and a sister-in-law.[2][7]

Notes change

  1. The Irish Times gave her date of death as 27 April. However, other sources — including the subject's own death notice — gave her date of death as 26 April.

References change

  1. "Argentine Ambassador to Ireland to be laid to rest in Foxford". Mayo Advertiser. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 McGreevy, Ronan (15 May 2020). "Argentina's ambassador to Ireland buried in Co Mayo: The mass of Laura Bernal held in Foxford after she died suddenly of virus aged 64". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  3. "Argentine Ambassador to Ireland to be laid to rest in Mayo". The Connaught Telegraph. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Dunne, William (14 May 2020). "Ireland's Argentine Ambassador to be buried in Foxford, Co Mayo due to special connection". Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 McGrath, Pat (15 May 2020). "Funeral of Argentinian Ambassador takes place in Mayo". RTÉ News. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  6. Hennessy, Michelle (15 May 2020). "Argentinian Ambassador to Ireland to be buried in Mayo: Laura Bernal died suddenly in Dublin last month". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  7. "Death Notice of Ambassador Laura Bernal". RIP.ie. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.