A much-loved and inspirational young Kilkenny woman dies from cervical cancer

A beautiful and brave young woman who campaigned to get access to the Pembro drug has died from cervical cancer.

Alice Taylor from Ballycallan in Co Kilkenny died on Friday at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin.

The 26-year-old was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2017 and last year was told that only palliative treatment would now be suitable for her. Her family, friends and the wider Kilkenny community fundraised on her behalf to access the immunotherapy drug, Pembro. 
 
 Vicky Phelan, who has campaigned on behalf of all women with cervical cancer to get access to the drug said that the tragic news had 'floored her'.

"Reading about Alice's death has floored me. I had met her and her Mum, Wendy at St. Vincent's Hospital where Alice moved for treatment to get on Pembro, which she had started. It was obviously too late for her. She was far too young to die," Vicky wrote on Twitter. 

Alice is the daughter of Martin and Wendy and dear sister of James and William and partner of David O'Dea. 

She will repose at her her home on Tuesday from 4pm concluding with Rosary and Vigil Prayers at 7pm. Her removal will take place on Wednesday morning to St. Brigid's Church, Ballycallan, for Requiem Mass at 11am with funeral afterwards to Mount Jerome Crematorium for private cremation.