Mary Joyce (Seoighthe)

The death took place on July 24, 2010 of Mrs Mary Joyce (Seoighthe), Polranny, Achill, one of the parish’s best-known and most popular figures.

Formerly Mary Gallagher, she was a native of Currane, Achill and was aged 86 years.

She was wife of the late Padraig Seoighthe, teacher, author, GAA administrator and one of Achill’s most prominent community activists over many years.

Mary always saw her principal role as homemaker and she combined this task with the running of a small shop and restaurant for a number of years.

Running a business posed few problems for Mary as from an early age she had helped to run the Gallagher family business in Currane.

Mary set up her own business in Polranny in the late 60s. Her shop was situated opposite the second level schools and she knew all the students by name and who they belonged too. Her mission every September was to establish the identity of the new students. She maintained an interest in them throughout their lives and loved to meet them as adults.

She had a keen interest in gardening - plants, flowers and vegetables and people often left her house with cuttings or produce, depending on the time of year.

Family was very important to her and it was fitting that she slipped peacefully from this world surrounded by her entire family. 

Mary was a person of very deep faith, a devout Catholic who gave voluntary service to several church organisations. These included the Children of Mary which she had been a member of since her teens and the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association which she had been a lifelong member of. In the late 1940s she was instrumental in setting up a PTAA Centre in Currane.

Mary was also a woman who liked to socialise and, as a keen whist player, she enjoyed Whist Drives throughout the Achill parish. Her happy demeanour made her a firm favourite with other whist players.

She will be very sadly missed by her sons MicheΡl and Piaras, daughters MΡire, Catherine, Ann, Nora, GrΡinne and Méadhbha, brothers Eoin (Currane), Brendan (USA) and Terry Gallagher (Ballina), sister Sr Kathleen, Medical Missionaries of Mary (Drogheda), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Following the traditional wake and repose at Casadh an Taoille, Currane, removal took place to Currane Church where Fr. Michael Gormally, PP, officiated at the reception ceremony.

The concelebrants of her Funeral Mass were Fr Michael Gormally, PP, Fr Tom Kearney, Fr Pat Donnellan, PP, Islandeady, Fr Ger Burns, PP, Letterfrack, Fr John Kenny, PP, Partry/Tourmakeady and Fr Eamonn Sweeney.

Family members read the lessons and prayers of the faithful and brought the gifts to the altar. The funeral liturgy was enhanced in a very meaningful way by the singing of Currance Church Choir.

In his homily Fr Gormally spoke of Mary’s many Christian attributes, her devotion to her family, her loyalty to her community, her love of people and her very deep faith. She was a person of great kindness and generosity and her giving nature was legendary. While she took her time making her mind up about people once a person gained acceptance from her they had a friend for life, one who was always there to lend a helping hand when called upon.

Mary was laid to rest in the family grave in Polranny Cemetery. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.