Many
tributes have been paid to the writer Dermot Healy who died during the past
week. He is one of the finest Irish
writers of his generation whose best work, I believe, was his memoirs published
in 1996 under the title ‘The Bend For
Home’. When I learned of his sudden
death I took down the book to re-read the wonderful memoir which documented his
upbringing in Finea, Co Westmeath where he was born in 1947 and his early years
spent in Cavan to where his father, a member of An Garda Siochana, was
transferred.
On
the same day that Dermot Healy’s death was announced news reached me of the
passing of May Mulhall of Pairc Bhride.
May, a native of Athy, was one of three daughters of ‘Gauchy’ Mulhall and his wife who lived
at ‘The Flags’ just over the bridge
on the Kilkenny Road.
The
older generation will remember the tall man
who was seldom to be seen without his stick. The nickname was apparently one earned in his
youth when his height suggested a clumsiness which disappeared as adulthood was
reached. ‘Gauchy’ operated a small shop at ‘The Flags’ and towards the end of his life he lived with his
daughter May and his son in law Michael.
‘Gauchy’ Mulhall of ‘The Flags’ had three daughters, Tess,
Ann and May and like so many of their generation Tess and Ann emigrated to
England. May remained in Athy and
married Michael Mulhall and they would rear seven children Geraldine, Maureen,
Stephanie, Ann, Pauline, Kieran and David.
One
of the traditional attributes of a Mulhall marrying a Mulhall is that the
female of the marriage is believed to become endowed with a cure for the
whooping cough. It is an Irish
traditional belief sharing equal standing with the seventh son of the seventh
son tradition. In May’s case the
traditional belief was readily accepted and she was recognised locally as the
possessor of the cure for what is a very common illness in children. May’s recipe for the cure was a specially
baked brown bread which with generosity and not a little sympathy she gave to
those who sought the traditional cure.
I
knew May as a great supporter of the Shackleton Autumn School which brings lecturers
on Shackleton and the Antarctic to our local Town Hall every October Bank
Holiday weekend. While May did not
attend all the lectures she could be guaranteed to lend her support during the
weekend by making an appearance at many of the weekend events. She was a great supporter of the arts and was
seen not only at Town Hall events, but also supported, while her health was
good, events in Athy’s Community Arts Centre in Woodstock Street.
May
also played an extremely active part in youth athletics for a long number of
years. She was Treasurer of the Athy
Athletic Club for six or seven years in the late 1960’s at a time when the club
was regarded as one of the best athletic clubs in Leinster. The late George Burrell was chairman of the
club and May with George, Harry Mulhall and George O’Toole established the
local community games committee. May was
secretary of that committee for almost 11 years during which time the committee
co-operated with KARE in organising sports for the disabled. Her other involvement in the local community
came courtesy of her volunteer work with Mrs. Quinn’s charity shop in Duke
Street.
May
was a kind and very cultured lady whose husband Michael predeceased her seven
years ago. She had a great interest in
the history of her native town and took pride in her links with ‘The Flags’ on the Kilkenny Road. Many a time I recall May amongst those who
joined me on the walking tour of our ancient town. As a native of Athy she had a great knowledge
and understanding of the families who lived in the town and was of enormous
help to me in my continuing research into the history of our local community.
May
is survived by her seven children and her sister Tess who lives in London to
whom our sympathies are extended on the death of a wonderful woman. Our sympathies are also extended to Miriam
McGilly on the death of her brother Dermot Healy whose published works are the
treasured legacy of a fine writer.
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