It is with a heavy heart that I deliver the news that a fellow contributor to The Spectator Australia, Niamh Finneran Loader, has passed away.

I had the privilege of getting to know Niamh at the Centre for Independent Studies’ Liberty and Society Conference in May this year.

Niamh was a character. Though I only knew her for a short period, I will remember Niamh for her cheeky Irish sense of humour and sharp wit, coupled with a strong intellect, which facilitated enjoyable philosophical discussions.

A free spirit and a lover of freedom, I admired and shared Niamh’s ardent support of liberty and personal freedom. To Niamh’s credit, she was no doubt blessed with more patience than me for the many in our generation that have seemingly pivoted toward socialist ideas!

In my relatively short experience, there are some rare people that you only cross paths with in this life for a short time, but make a remarkable impression upon you. Niamh was one of those individuals. Never explicitly political, Niamh called a spade a spade. She was an impressively critical thinker and ultimately wanted the truth to prevail above all else. Most of all, she was a friendly individual who was a pleasure to be around.

I enjoyed reading Niamh’s work for The Spectator Australia. She was a lover of literature and had a deep insight into the Western canon of great works, especially fictional works, and their impact on culture. As she wrote, ‘without imagination, we stagnate’. My favourite quote of hers though, which for me concisely summarises the times in which we live, was as follows: ‘Analyse anything deeply enough and you’ll inevitably take offence to something.’

Niamh had a very bright future ahead of her, and she has been taken far too soon. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends at this difficult time.

May Niamh rest in peace.