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04th Apr 2016

Mark Farren’s heartbroken widow reveals final emotional conversation with Derry City legend

Kevin McGillicuddy

God love them.

Mark Farren’s tragic passing in February is still hard to come to terms with.

The Derry City legend died at just 33 years of age, after battling with an aggressive form of brain cancer for the last number of years.

The striker was one of the most recognisable and well-known football faces in this country over the last decade, and hundreds, if not thousands of tributes were paid to him after his passing.

Airtricity League Premier Division 27/4/2012 Derry City Mark Farren Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan *** Local Caption ***

Farren’s widow, in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, has now spoken about her final moments with her late husband and the heartbreaking words she shared with the League of Ireland hero.

The Farren’s had tragically lost triplets just after birth in August 2014, and Terri-Louise told Mark to be with their late children in his final moments.

“I remember saying to him – go and be with the girls. They need you. Don’t stay because of me, I have friends and family to look after me, they need you now, let go, and he squeezed my hand and that was it.”

Farren was initially diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008 and over the subsequent years he underwent several operations to try and keep cancer away.

However he sadly lost his battle for life in February of this year, and his wife admits the final few weeks were especially difficult.

“In the last few weeks he couldn’t really speak though I was able to understand everything he wanted and every morning and every night he made the effort to tell me he loved me.

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