NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Fun-loving Phoebe Prince remembered by Irish and U.S. friends

Fun-loving Phoebe Prince remembered by Irish and U.S. friends

APRIL DREW,

Irish Voice Reporter

Published Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 11:40 PM

Updated Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 2:35 PM

Larger Text

E-mail

12 Comments

Phoebe Prince (left) pictured with friends before her tragic death

O’Donoghue said the Prince family are all in the U.S. trying to come to terms with what happened to Phoebe.
Meanwhile back in the U.S. class mates of Phoebe remember her fondly "She was so outgoing and she just kind of drew you in," South Hadley High School freshman Meghan Kennedy, told the Daily Hampshire Gazette. "The second you met her you wanted to know everything about her. She could have this life conversation with you like you knew her. It was really nice to meet her."

"She had this thing about her," said Kennedy, who described her as "a beautiful, charming and overall sweet girl to everyone who knew her."

Darragh Joyce, a friend from Limerick who met Prince on at Villiers, a co-ed boarding school in Limerick, Ireland, said she liked to read Shakespeare and Dante. She enjoyed movies like "Donnie Darko" and bands like My Chemical Romance. Her favorite subjects in school were English and home economics.

He said Prince had a "big presence" in every class.

"The teachers were always telling her to stop laughing," said Joyce. "She had a very contagious laugh so everyone would laugh when she would laugh even if it wasn't funny."
Her very popularity may have got her in trouble when she moved to SouthHadley

"Her adjustment problem was she got popular quick and she ran right up against the beautiful kids," South Hadley parent Lucas Gelinas told the New Hampshire newspaper . "She started taking some of that magnetism away from them."
Phoebe also kept much of the inner anguish to herself. She missed her father, Jeremy Prince, a gardener in Ireland.

But heartbroken friends in Ireland thought she was adjusting well in America.

"On Phoebe's networking pages she had pictures of loads of new friends," said Joyce, 15. "Everyone thought she got along fine."

In Ireland, he said, "she was the biggest presence in the class and everyone wanted to be her friend."

Alas things turned out far different when she moved to America. Now friend son both sides of the Atlantic are left to grieve."It is a sad day for us all" said Pat O'Donoghue.

Last page < 1 2

Nster.com

E-mail

12 Comments

See all comments

michealcollins | Apr 02, 2010, 11:00 PM EDT

In response to Everydaydad, if the administration and teachers had have been doing their jobs, this would have been avoided. To turn this around and blame the mother is beyond comprehension. Are you a friend of one of the accused? Furthermore, bullying doesn't mean physical force being applied. Verbal abuse is as bad as being physically abused. "These kids accused should be let off"? Where is the logic in that? So they are not to be held responsible? Talk about lecturing on bad choices. You have made several here. Im ashamed to be Irish?????? Sorry I don't follow the logic here either. By the way having been born and raised in Belfast before immigrating, I've had some experience with bullies and their words hurt just as much as their fists, boots and rifle butts.

Report abuse

EveryDayDad | Apr 02, 2010, 07:46 PM EDT

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Phoebe's Mom was aware of the harassment and that it was growing. Why would you continue to take your child to such an environment. They had choices. They could have home-schooled, changed schools, the choices are limitless. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change (other kids bullying), the power to change the things I can (home or other school) and the wisdom to know the difference (well, they missed this one all together and now it's too late). A sad sad tragedy. Phoebe made a bad choice that cost her her life. If Phoebe had more support and action-based involvement from her parents her death may have avoided. Teasing and getting teased or "Bullied" which to me involved physical force is a part of growing up just like losing a job, a wife or other significant loss. These kids accused should be let off. They will not forget that society is pointing the finger at them. This could lead to more suicides if it continues. Nothing's going to bring Phoebe back and she did kill herself alone. Bad choice Phoebe. If anything, I think her parents should be charged with child endangerment resulting in death for continuing to force Phoebe to go to that school. School is not daycare people, its a learning environment. If your kids not in an environment they can learn in, change it! Don't use public schools as your baby sitter so you can sit home on the couch or make what (money???) and blame everyone else. Lessons learned everywhere on this one. Alot of good those do Phoebe now. Rest in Peace.

Report abuse

killowen | Apr 02, 2010, 05:38 PM EDT

Stay away from chatting and exchanging over the www its not only stupid telling folks about your unimportant self but dangerous. An opportunity for low lives to gain your confidence leading to ........ you can figure from here on in - take a walk - kick or throw a ball but get off these ensnaring tools that "we gotta have" nonsense.

Report abuse

EricSimmons | Apr 01, 2010, 12:14 AM EDT

TWW is fully commiting to the "STOP CYBER-BULLYING" initiative in memory of Phoebe Prince. Read my blog and show your support by forwarding it to everyone you know. Spread the message & STOP the Cyber-bullying here: http://www.topworldwebsite.com/blog/twweditorsblog/3594

Report abuse

savvylady | Mar 31, 2010, 11:38 PM EDT

Phoebe may be gone, but her legacy will live on as the impetus of change...how bullying is handled by the schools and the need for accountability by the staff and administration, recognition by South Hadley and other communities that you have a moral resposibility as parents to educate your children about all types of bullying and not stay oblivious to their hateful acts and the formation of strong anti-bullying legislation in MA and all over the USA. It time to out all of you pathetic cowards who engage in this behavior and to hold your parents responsible as well. Rest in peace dear Phoebe, your in a far better place. May God bless and bring comfort your family.

Report abuse

phoebewsmifrind | Mar 31, 2010, 09:06 PM EDT

phoebewas my friend i cant belive these stupid jerks did this to her i miss her so much phoebe was my best friend i loved her and still do i am going to her funeral i will always miss you<3

Report abuse

mslynchie | Mar 31, 2010, 05:52 PM EDT

I pray for Phoebe's family. I hope that with the love & support from family & friends they feel comfort. To the mean boys and girls, your day will come, it may not be today or tomorrow, or even next year but it will come. There is no excuse for your actions so I would really ask that the parents of these children please shut-up, there is no excuse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Report abuse

thefallsroad | Mar 31, 2010, 04:45 PM EDT

I pray for Phoebe's family and friends. Please believe me that this kind of bullying is NOT typical American behavior. This crime is widespread, however. Teachers, Administrators and parents alike must be more aware of what is said and done in schools. Teens are especially vulnerable to taunts and threats. Phoebe sounds as though she was a happy, popular girl before entering her last school. As for being an 'Irish Whore', It remind all of those accused and those whose names won't be associated with this death: Let them among you who are without sin cast the first stone. God Bless you, Phioebe.

Report abuse

ericalaughlin | Mar 31, 2010, 03:28 PM EDT

Thank you so much for this article. I've been waiting this entire time for an article remembering the lovely girl that she was. My prayers are with her family.

Report abuse

hyattsville | Mar 31, 2010, 12:35 PM EDT

I’m really confused at the person who keeps asking if this would happen to a Jewish person? Every ethnic group has bullies and bullied. What would you call the Holocaust if not extreme and fatal bullying? Ethnicity wasn’t a feature of this particular case, several of the bullies having Irish names.

Report abuse

borefield | Mar 31, 2010, 09:17 AM EDT

So senseless and sad. I feel the parents of these kids are very much responsible for the actions of their children's behavior. The school principle and teachers are also responsible. They put their heads in the sand and hoped it would work itself out. When my daughter was in 4Th. grade in the 80's, before internet or cell phones, I kept overhearing phone conversations of a feud between two groups in her grade, pretty nasty and meanspirited conversations were takeing place. I talked to her about it, some of it she shared with me but not all of it. I saw a pattern continue and spoke to other mothers about my concerns that this was getting out of control, some agreed with me, others took the "it is a kids issue and they will work it out." I took it upon myself to call the 4Th. grade teacher to come see her. She agreed to meet me at 7:30 a.m as I had to go to work. She was wonderful, told me she was aware of dissention and had actually contacted some of the parents and was met with indifference. After I shared what I knew and my concerns, she discussed in detail whit all the girls what they were into, gave them guidelines and just watched the whole thing diffuse. That dear teacher has since passed away. It all came back to me as I watched this story unfold. What 20 min. to a half hour of intervention may have avoided. I can't imagan those theachers, principle and parents putting their heads on their pillows at night without seeing this young girls face before them. I wish her family peace and healing.

Report abuse

kfittizzi | Mar 31, 2010, 09:13 AM EDT

I have a 15 year old daughter and when she was younger she was bullied...it was horrible to watch how isolated she became and truly "sad" she was. Luckily, since high school it is 100% better, but I feel for this poor family. The school should of took care of this, and more times than none they don't. No one should be tormented like that, and my heart breaks. I'm glad they are pursuing charges against the school, the students and administration...this young girl took her own life because of people ignoring what was going on...NO MORE!!! This type of bullying behavior needs to be stopped!

Report abuse