The heartbroken siblings of the late "free spirit" Nuala Maguire have paid tribute to a sister who had a "real zest for life" following her untimely death mere weeks after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.

Nuala, 38, late of Boho, passed away peacefully at the South West Acute Hospital on May 9 after a short battle with cancer.

Speaking fondly of his beloved younger sister, Barry Maguire described Nuala's personality as "infectious", commenting that many people were drawn to her.

"Nuala was a bit of a free spirit. She had a real zest for life. She just loved the fun and going out," he said, noting that at the drop of a hat Nuala would have been off on an adventure: "She would have went to Galway with her friends. She was always that one person that you could rely on if you were organising something."

Nuala's sister Paula Wilson echoed this, adding: "She was outgoing, she loved getting out with her friends and going on holidays.

“She actually had planned to go away to Tenerife there in November, for two months but with Covid hitting [it didn’t happen]."

For over 18 years, Nuala worked for the Enniskillen branch of BT, a place where she was highly regarded by her colleagues, many of whom she classed as good friends.

“They [her colleagues] have said they really miss her. She would have helped a lot of people when they started in BT," said Paula, explaining that Nuala would have been the "go-to person" for a lot of people who worked at the branch and that she had a very supportive nature.

Paying their respects, Nuala's BT colleagues formed a guard of honour outside the BT building as her remains passed by as she was brought home from the SWAH to Boho ahead of her funeral.

Prior to working for BT, Nuala had worked as a beautician for a few years.

“She had trained as a beautician hence why she always looked glamorous,” said Paula with a smile: “She took pride in her appearance.”

Nuala loved music and enjoyed going to festivals with her friends including the Rory Gallagher Festival in Ballyshannon and Sea Sessions in Bundoran. She also liked getting out on the lakes of Fermanagh, joining the crew of Row the Erne on occasions and having a go on the hydrobikes.

In February of this year, Nuala attended A&E at the SWAH after experiencing pain in her foot.

"She had a foot pain and her leg was sore and swollen," explained Paula.

At this stage, Nuala was diagnosed with pneumonia. She was given an antibiotic and was kept in for one night.

Over the following weeks, Nuala started to become very breathless. On February 25, she went back to hospital as her health had started to deteriorate significantly.

"When she was in [SWAH], they found it very hard to test her for stuff because of her breathing. They thought it was pneumonia on her lungs and they were trying to get fluid off her lungs.

"She was then transferred to Belfast, to The Royal Victoria Hospital on March 25," said Paula.

After a number of tests, Nuala was given a shocking diagnosis.

"One of the consultants discovered that she had stage four lung cancer. They couldn’t find a primary but Nuala had a massive cyst on her ovaries, 22cm, but they couldn’t find the primary so they assumed that’s where the primary was. But because of her condition, she was too high a risk to do a biopsy on," explained Paula.

The family were then given the heartbreaking news that treatment wasn’t viable for Nuala as she was so weak.

She was brought back to the SWAH where her family could visit her more easily in her final days.

“The staff in both hospitals were very good. We were so lucky to have that time together with her," said Paula, adding: "Our prayers were answered because she wasn’t in any pain, she wasn’t suffering.

“She had great strength and faith. She was so positive. I think that’s why it’s so hard to accept, because she looked so well."

Nuala's funeral was arranged by McGovern Funeral Directors and took place at Sacred Heart Church, Boho on Wednesday, May 12.

"A lot of neighbours stood outside their gates and their homes to line the route to the church. It was lovely," said Barry, commenting that his family got a lot of comfort from this support and from the messages they received.

Loving daughter of Peter and Alice Maguire, cherished sister of Barry (Geraldine) and Paula (Richard), a devoted aunt of Killian, Odhran, Orlaith, Shea, Caiden, Phoebe and Faith, Nuala is greatly missed by her family and friends.

“We miss everything about her.

"The closeness that we had, she’s my wee sister and she lived next door to us, so just that proximity as well, we were constantly in contact with each other.

"She was always up for fun times and full of life," Barry told this newspaper.