*Marie McInerney.
SCARIFF has “one fewer friend” and is “a sadder place” following the death of Marie McInerney who was considered an integral part of the fabric of the East Clare town.
On Sunday afternoon, word filtered through Scariff that Marie had died bringing a sense of shock and sadness across East Clare.
As the last direct surviving member of the McInerney family in Scariff, her passing marks the end of an era.
Her grandfather Tom was a founding Director of Aicher Chipboard (Scariff) and founder of McInerney Properties. Under the joint direction of his sons, Amby & Dan, the firm became the first ‘volume builders’ in the state. In 1971, the company went public with Amby as Chair and McInerney Holdings expanded into the Gulf States and into Spain & Portugal. Amby remained loyal to Scariff and when the factory went into receivership, he became Chair of Chipboard Products Ltd, to save it from closure.
In 1962, Marie joined the office workforce and she remained there until her retirement, building up fond memories with her many colleagues down through the decades.
She made history when becoming the first woman to serve as secretary of a GAA club when getting elected to the post in Scariff in the 1960s, this feat was a source of great pride for her. She was in the role of secretary of the Park Committee in 1982 for the official opening of the Scariff GAA Grounds and Community Centre, the celebration included a challenge match between Clare and Galway, indeed their work is credited locally with laying the foundations for the excellent facilities presently at the club. She also served as treasurer of the club.
Within GAA circles, the McInerney name was well known. Marie’s grandfather, Tom, captained Scariff to its second ever senior championship victory in 1917. Tom had been on the losing side playing for O’Callaghans Mills in 1907 when Scariff won their first title although he had won a senior medal for the Mills in 1906.
Marie’s four uncles, Dan, Amby, Frank and Vincent all featured for Scariff in the 1946 senior hurling final in a memorable victory over Feakle. Frank and Dan featured again in the 1952 Scariff triumph and both were joined by Vincent in the 1953 victory. Indeed in all five of Scariff championship wins, there were McInerneys playing for one side or the other. Dan went on to enjoy a long career with Clare in the 1950s.
Paying tribute to Marie, a spokesperson Scariff GAA stated, “We had lost one of our own, someone that was part of everyday life in Scariff, a friendly voice, someone who would always stop for a chat, a lady who was Scariff to the core. It was a sudden passing and while she did have health issues in more recent years her personality and her good nature was what we only saw. There was also a sense of incongruity that given her life story, she passed during what was the most important hurling weekend of the year so far. Marie lived to see her beloved Clare reach the All-Ireland senior hurling final and would have been overjoyed with that”.
“As well as her GAA, Marie loved her television. There’s a story told of one park committee meeting where discussion was quite heated. At a crucial point of the meeting Marie, the secretary got up to leave. ‘Where are you going Marie? We’re not finished yet’, ‘I know’ said Marie ‘but Dallas is on’ whereupon she left the meeting to the incredulity of some GAA diehards”.
“After her retirement Marie was to be found out walking for exercise in Scariff and Drewsboro. She had also joined the new gym at the GAA clubhouse and she enjoyed the benefits of exercise. Marie had the strength and the resilience during her life to take on and overcome her health issues. Above all she enjoyed living in Church St. Scariff. meeting her friends and neighbours, stopping for the chat on her way to and from the shops and frequently going up to the café and meeting people there. Her interest in hurling was lifelong. Her beloved Clare and Scariff teams were so important to her and in more recent years when her health didn’t allow her to attend as many games, she still followed their progress in the media. It was poignant this week to see Clare and Scariff flags still adorn her house as we prepare to bid her farewell. We have one fewer friend in Scariff this week, one less person to chat to and to look forward to the All-Ireland with. We have lost one of the ‘old stock’ and Scariff will be all the sadder for her passing”.
