Mary Durkan

The death has taken place recently at Abbeybreaffy Nursing Home  of Mary Durkan, who was  daughter of the late James and Ellen Cusack, Brocagh.

Mary was   born on July 2, 1919 and baptized, Mary Teresa after  Saint Teresa to whom she had great devotion. It was interesting that  Mary died on the feast of Saint Teresa.

On October 13, 1930 Mary’s mother, Ellen, died in childbirth at  35 years of age leaving  a family of nine young children. At that time Mary, who  was the eldest,  assumed the role of mother of the family as she helped her father  with the cooking, washing and baking brown bread for the family.

On October 11, 1944 Mary married her  schoolmate, Josie Durkan and they  made their home  in Aughagowla with Josie’s parents whom she looked after  until their deaths.

Mary and Josie were blessed  with two daughters  and three sons. While rearing  her family Mary worked hard on the farm where  no job was too hard for  her to undertake. She loved milking the cows and washing the creamery cans, feeding the pigs and saving the turf and the hay.

When  all the family were settled with families of their own Mary and Josie  enjoyed going for a spin in their car to places such as Knock, Achill and Connemarra. 

In their hearts they held a great love of children and they enjoyed the occasions when their 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren came to visit them. They  were  proud to see each one of them doing well. 

When Josie died  in January 2000 Mary lost her soulmate and lifelong friend.

She continued to value the friendship of her neighbours and friends especially her  lifelong friend, Babs Walsh with whom she occasionally  enjoyed a glass of sherry. Mary enjoyed the simple but important things in life. She looked forward to attending weekly Mass in Fahy Church and her visits to Knock Shrine. 

Each Wednesday she looked forward to the arrival of the travelling shop and in more recent years she enjoyed her Friday morning shopping trip to Westport on  the bus. She  looked forward to the arrival of the postman when he brought letters from her sisters in England and America.

Her firm  handshake  and pleasant smile welcomed many visitors into the Durkan home and no one left her home without  tea and  homemade apple cakes  or porter cake.

While in  failing health, Mary moved to Abbeybreaffy Nursing Home where she received excellent care from the  management and staff. While in the home she was visited regularly by family, relatives and friends. The esteem in which Mary was held in her native community  and indeed much further afield was reflected in the large crowds of mourners   who came to bid farewell to a most gracious friend and neighbour. During  her requiem Mass celebrated by her nephew Fr Des Devenney (Birmingham) Fr Paddy Gilligan (Cong) and Fr Jim Walsh,  Fr Des recalled many of his happy memories of his aunt. Mary was laid to rest in Fahy  cemetery overlooking the community she loved so well.

To her sons,  Paddy (Cultrain)  Raymond and Oliver (Aughagowla);  daughters,  Noreen, (Knocknabola, Kilmeena)  Maureen Gilligan (Ballintubber) eleven grandchildren and seventeen  great-grandchildren, daughters-in-law, sons in law, nieces and nephews and her many other relatives and friends we extend our sincerest sympathies.  

May her gentle soul rest in peace