O’BRIENSBRIDGE has bid farewell to a staunch community member following the death of Margaret O’Connor.
Formerly of Shanakyle, Parteen, Mags made quite the mark in O’Briensbridge serving as the community group chairperson and playing an active role in seeking improvements in the locality whether it be wastewater infrastructure or road safety.
She was to the fore in paving the way for the opening of a memorial garden dedicated to Cratloe patriot, Nan Hogan which opened in August 2016, Nan was a former leader of the East Clare Cumann na mBan Brigade who died at the age of twenty five due to the effects of hunger strike. The garden commemorates the anniversary of the 1916 Rising with all those involved remembered.
An active member of Sinn Féin, Mags was particularly pleased to see the party run a candidate in her locality for the 2019 local elections when Seán Naughton was the youngest candidate across the county to appear on the ballot paper.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) paid tribute to Mags, a friend for the past ten to twelve years. “She wasn’t just a colleague or a comrade but a close friend, it was very sad that she got cancer but for someone so small she packed a mighty punch, she was amazing during the 1916 commemorations”.
“She was an amazing, inspirational woman, for someone so small she was a large presence,” Donna added. “We often went out for lunch, we ended up sitting for so long that it ended up being a dinner. We talked about everything, it was not just political. She was very motherly yet tough and strong, she will be sorely missed”.
Given her activism, the fact that Mags never ran for election may seem a surprise but Donna insisted she always rowed in behind the party. “Despite what was happening over the weekend, we put it aside and gave Mags a send off that she rightfully deserved, the family felt the party showed their love for Mags, it was an honour for me to be able to attend and help organise. I’m hoping she’s up there with Mike McKee and Jim McDonald and proud of what we did for her”.
Mags died peacefully at Milford Care Centre. She is predeceased by her brothers Simon, Pat and Tom sisters Kathleen and Bríd. She is survived and deeply missed by her loving family, husband Joe, daughter Triona, son-in-law Diarmuid, grandsons Joey and Daithí, brothers John, James and Mike, sisters Ellen, Esther and Pauline, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
