Tributes pour in for mum-of-two killed while jogging in Tralee

Tributes have been pouring in for a mum-of-two who was killed while jogging in Tralee, Co Kerry, over the weekend.

Anila Mucaj, 48, out running with two friends on Sunday along a well-known walking and cycling route between Tralee and the Blennerville Bridge when she was struck by an SUV driven by a man in his 80s.

Emergency services attended the scene and Ms Mucaj was transported by ambulance to University Hospital Kerry, where she was later pronounced dead.

Her two jogging companions sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while the driver of the SUV was also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening conditions.

One line of enquiry Gardai are following is that the driver may have suffered a medical incident while driving.

In a tribute, jogging club Tralee Park Run said on Monday: ‘We are heartbroken by the news that our beautiful friend Anila lost her life yesterday while she was running in Blennerville.

‘Anila was a loyal Tralee parkrunner who ran 116 of her 117 parkruns with us. We will miss her at our parkrun every Saturday morning.

'Our condolences go to her family and friends and especially her young son who is a regular volunteer and runner with us and to her friends in Born To Run who will feel the loss so deeply. Our thoughts are also with her running friends Claire and Clara and we pray for a full recovery for them both.’

Sympathy was extended to Ms Mucaj’s husband and their two sons as her family and many friends struggle to come to terms with what happened. Ms Mucaj was an Albanian national who came to Ireland to build a new life years ago.

Rose Brosnan from the athletics club Born To Run said she remembered the first night Ms Mucaj, who had ran several marathons over the years, came to the club and how she was quiet and shy. However, she added: ‘She soon was well known to all due to her genuine warmth and care for others.

‘She was an amazing person to have in our little club. She always had a smile and was such a loving, caring person. She loved running and achieved many goals she had set for herself by running most Saturdays at parkrun events.'

In another tribute, the Born To Run club said: ‘We have been left devastated by the tragic news that our beautiful kind friend Anila has passed away after an accident on the Canal Road, our thoughts are with her husband and her two beautiful boys and all of Anila’s family at this time.

‘We pray also for Claire and Clara who were running with Anila so that they make a full recovery, our thoughts are with all the families. Rest in peace our beautiful friend.’

Kerins O'Rahillys GAA Club also remembered Ms Mucaj in a tribute, saying she had been a supporter of their 10k run for many years. 'Anila's passing while out for her run is truly heartbreaking - may her passion and spirit always be remembered,' they added on Facebook.

Other tributes to Ms Mucaj remembered her as a warm and selfless person. 'Anila was a kind, caring, beautiful person who always put everyone else first,' one tribute read.

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage from the area around the time of the incident to come forward.

Ms Mucaj's death notice on RIP.ie says that she will repose at the Gleasure Funeral Home in Tralee on Wednesday (5th March) from 6 to 8pm. Her funeral will be held in Albania.