It is with heavy hearts that all of us at Afri mourn the tragic passing of our dear friend, collaborator, and courageous human rights defender Sunny Jacobs.
Sunny and her caretaker, Kevin Kelly, lost their lives in a devastating fire at the Sunny Healing Center in rural County Galway. The loss of Sunny leaves a profound void — not only for those of us privileged to know her personally, but for justice movements across Ireland and around the world. Her life was a testament to resilience, transformation, and unwavering commitment to human rights. Having survived a wrongful conviction, 17 years of imprisonment — including five on death row — Sunny emerged with deep compassion and a fierce dedication to ensuring that others would not suffer in silence or alone.
Alongside her beloved late husband Peter Pringle, Sunny co-founded The Sunny Center, providing healing, solidarity, and practical support to fellow Exonerees worldwide. Together, they created a place of refuge in Ireland, hosting survivors of wrongful conviction and offering a model of restorative justice and compassionate activism that has inspired so many, particularly all of us in Afri.
Sunny’s connection to Afri was longstanding and so deeply valued, enriching and deepening our work immeasurably. She generously contributed to our peace and justice work through talks, workshops, and public events, bringing not only her extraordinary personal story — and her unwavering belief in the possibility of transformation and healing — but her infectious smile and an inimitable and loving joy. Whether speaking about the human cost of injustice, addressing gatherings on the death penalty, or offering wisdom in quieter spaces, Sunny left an indelible mark on all who encountered her.
We are heartbroken at her loss, but take solace in knowing her spirit, example, and legacy will continue to guide and inspire us. Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann — we will not see her like again.
As we grieve her loss, we wish to honour her spirit — one of courage, compassion, and profound humanity. We know that many of you will wish to do the same. To this end, friends and supporters around the world are invited to join us for an online gathering in Sunny’s memory this coming Sunday.
A Gathering for Sunny Jacobs (1947–2025)
This Sunday, members of Sunny Jacobs’ international community of friends will gather online at 8 pm Irish time (3 pm NYC, 12 pm LA) to light candles, reflect through a short meditation, and share some brief words of reflection in honour of this most remarkable human. This online gathering is offered in advance of further local and international memorials, which will be organised in due course. All are warmly welcome — all you need is a good enough internet connection to join via Zoom. For any questions or special requests, please contact ruairi@loveandcourage.org.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-gathering-for-sunny-jacobs-online-tickets-1395869426029
Funeral Arrangements
All are warmly welcome who wish to pay their respects to Sunny.
Her reposing will take place at Naughton’s Funeral Home, Knock, Inverin, Co. Galway (H91 AF40) on Monday, 9th June, from 5pm to 7pm.
A short service and cremation will follow at Shannon Crematorium on Tuesday, 10th June, at 12 noon.
Full details on RIP.ie: https://rip.ie/death-notice/sunny-jacobs-galway-costelloe-596152
Condolences for Kevin Kelly
Kevin’s funeral took place on Saturday, the 7th of June. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved Kevin, especially his mother Fiona, his father Ken, Ken’s partner Maureen and her son Jonathan, Kevin’s partner Sheree, his siblings Jill and Cúán, brothers-in-law Conor and Kal, beloved nieces Hailee-May and Aila- Rose, and nephew Ezra. If you would like to leave your condolences, you can do so here: https://rip.ie/death-notice/condolences/kevin-kelly-galway-costelloe-596046
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