Sir, – I was saddened to hear the wonderful Mary Maher is no longer with us. When I was a young mother (in the late 70s/ early 80s) with two small girls 13 months apart, I was adjusting to new experiences away from work and to caring for my family.
It was all very different to my life up to that point and it was in the days when fathers were greeted with gushing praise for the slightest effort “to help”.
My girls were a delight and I loved my new life but found the time somehow to write an article about my experiences and rather cheekily submitted it to The Irish Times. Mary rang me a few times and we had great conversations and she kindly agreed to publish my article and even sent a photographer to take a picture of me and the girls.
Needless to say I was delighted and proud to see the article in the paper. Somehow I was connected to the outside world and was being treated as someone with views which might resonate with others. All down to Mary’s insight, foresight and intelligent kindness.
She will be sorely missed by so many.
– Yours, etc,
PAMELA MEDCALF,
Killiney, Co Dublin.