Margaret Donnelly RIP
Margaret Donnelly pictured on the parish outing to Clonmacnoise in 2005 with PP Fr Sean Ó Cathain and Noel Costello. Pic: Pauline Joyce
One of Bearna's best-known characters passed away on November 30, 2016.
Margaret Donnelly (77), from the Pier Road, treated everyone the same, whether you were a prince of a pauper - her encounter with a bemused Roy Keane in 2007 was testament to that.
Although she had spent the last few years in nursing homes, she was a character that could never be forgotten. She had trained as a nurse in the UK, but was called home early to help on the family farm when her sister died.
Margaret never finished her studies, but returned to work in the area of nursing while regulations allowed. She also cared for the elderly and local children, for which she will be forever loved.
Not known for staying in the shadows, she made headlines some years ago when she met Roy Keane outside her front door. He had been staying in The Twelve Hotel, during a pre-friendly match between Sunderland and Galway United in August 2007. He was heading down to the pier for a wander when he met Margaret. They had a great chat, she gave him free range eggs, and he promised to visit again.
This wasn't her first time to feature in the media, though. She was interviewed for TV news after Eamonn Casey resigned as Bishop of Galway. A great admirer of his, she stood up for him when the world seemed to be closing its doors on him.
The Honorary Mayoress of Bearna had been sick for about six years before her death, and had been living in nursing homes, away from the place she grew up on the Pier Road.
At her funeral Mass, PP, Fr Michael Brennan paid tribute to Margaret’s younger brother, Michael, whom he said had looked after her very well in the last few years – visiting her in Oughterard three times a week, with the newspapers and chat.
"We are reminded of the time long ago, in a totally different church, Margaret’s parents Thomas and Kathleen brought a little girl to the church to be christened," he said.
"She was blessed with water, and a candle was lit on her behalf. That small action – it might have been done in Latin at the time, and they may not have understood the words – but the water symbolised that prayer that she would have a good life, and the candle represents that she would be a light to people who crossed her path, that she would enrich other’s lives with her gifts and her spirit.
"She and Michael, and the people of her time, came through a time of amazing change in Bearna over the years, living a life where poverty was never far from the door and people had to work hard, work from the land, deliver milk, you name it. Some, like her brother Mattie, went to New Zealand."
Her nephews,Aidan and Tom, travelled to Bearna to be at the funeral.
Aidan described her as a great, loving, and kind lady:
"Someone who loved life, and lived it well. She was strong-willed, and she was always clear in her views and her opinions.
"In some ways, she’s not unlike one of the Atlantic storms that comes through into Galway Bay. From a distance, there were dark clouds and a lot of activity on the horizon, but as it drew closer, it became a soft, warm, cloud, enveloping – and that was Margaret.
"Up close, she was welcoming and kind. Family was immensely important to Margaret, her parents, and her brothers, and sister, and Michael whom she cared for and looked after.
"She knew everyone, community was everything; she loved Barna, but more than that she loved the craic. She had many stories. Faith was also important, the church was part of her salvation.
"She would take care of people, the aged and children. She lived in the UK, but returned home at aged 22 (1961), that was a duty of care to her family with the passing of her sister, Mary.
"We remember her kindly, and those who cannot be here today, but would like to be. We mourn her loss, but we celebrate her life, because she would not want us to be sad; she would encourage us to get on, make a go of it, not dwell on the past.
"And that’s what we must do now, take the spirit of Margaret and move forward together. Rest easy auntie Margaret, be at peace, your last five or six years were difficult."
Kind words were read out from her nieces in New Zealand, Marie and Claire.
The latter said: "I first met my Auntie Margaret when I was seven years old. We had travelled from NZ to Ireland, Margaret taught us so many things, how to herd cows, how to milk them, how to look after the hens and donkeys.
"She expected us to work hard, just as she and my uncles did. There was no time to rest, she was an amazing worker, and if you weren’t quick enough she would leave without you."
Marie, her godchild, described Margaret as "a kind, caring, generous, witty lady, who lit up the room."
Margaret's sister-in-law, Kathleen, also sent kind words:
"When I first met Margaret, I was struck by her big blue eyes – the Donnolly eyes. They say the eyes are the windows to your soul, Margaret was a very capable woman. Hard working, honest but, above all a leader, she did not suffer fools.
"She was the matriarch of Bearna, looking out for others in need, particularly those on their own. Although we lived many miles apart, we often spoke on the phone. Margaret was very witty, and had a good sense of fun. When she was made honorary Mayoress of Bearna, she would ring up and say ‘this is Margaret, Mayoress of Bearna’.
"We had many laughs over the years, and some disagreements too. Margaret could have fixed opinions of things which she wouldn’t change, but she always listened to others."
She was laid to rest in Reilig Bhearna on December 6, with her sister, brother, and parents.
She will be missed by her brother, Michael, and other close family, but also by her friends and neighbours from the Pier Road and beyond.
Ní bheidh a leithead arís ann.
When Margaret Met Roy...
We heard that there was a photograph to mark the occasion, unfortunately, we don't have a copy, but here is the small snippet from the Galway City Tribune (August 10, 2007) documenting that most interesting of encounters.
Oh to have been a fly on the wall....
Staff from Brennan's Pharmacy stand outside to pay their respects to an old customer, Margaret Donnelly, as she makes her final journey to Reilig Bhearna. The blinds of Donnelly's of Barna are shut, during what would be their busy lunchtime trade...
The remains of Margaret Donnelly are brought on her final journey to Reilig Bhearna, across from her home on the Pier Road.
Neighbours and friends carry Margaret Donnelly's remains into Reilig Bhearna, and to the family plot where she was laid to rest with her sister, Mary (d. 1961); father, Thomas (d. 1975); mother, Kathleen (d. 1985); and brother TJ (d. 2000).