Carmel Mulrine was a Tyrone woman who spent most of her life in Derry where she made a huge contribution to the life of the community.
Along with some other pioneering women, she helped to set up Derry Well Woman centre to address social and health needs. It is now a strategic hub based in Queen Street.
Throughout her life Carmel was a champion of equality, social justice and empowerment. Most of her career was devoted to education in the community and voluntary sector through women’s community development associations. She had amazing energy.
In all her roles she brought vision, curiosity and creativity. She got great satisfaction when groups thrived and always acted in a quietly supportive role.
As her two daughters described her: “She was a mentor without knowing she was mentoring, she saw possibility where others saw problems, she dealt with issues that mattered to people with fun, flair and flamboyance.”
Carmel was born on a farm in the townland of Killavney, near Augher in south Tyrone. She was the second eldest of seven along with Sean, Una, Phelim, PJ, Gabriel and Patricia.
Her parents, Mick and Molly Mulrine, made a living from the land when money was scarce but their children grew up in a loving and caring family. They helped out on the farm, milking the cows, cutting turf and bringing in the hay. Long before the term ‘zero waste’ entered the vocabulary, items would be reused and repurposed.
From an early age, Carmel had a strong sense of justice and a deep respect for the Earth. Her family and neighbours helped to form her into the woman she became.
After primary school she attended the Technical College in Omagh. During summer holidays she went with her best friend Bridie to work in Butlin’s holiday centre in Scotland.
After finishing school, she went for a few years to live in British Columbia and began teaching with the Native Americans, where her love of indigenous peoples began. After that she went to work for Concern in Bangladesh for a number of years.
When she returned from her travels she went on a flying visit to Derry and, by chance, met a man named Jim O’Neill. For him it was love at first sight. Carmel needed a bit more time – she was a Tyrone woman after all. But she got to know Jim better and decided that he was the man for her. They were married in 1983.
Fr Aengus Finucane, the founder of Concern, officiated at their marriage in the Forth chapel near Augher, in Carleton country. It’s true to say that their love for one another grew stronger every day and they went on to have two girls, Grainne and Meabh, both of whom are also active in community work.
Carmel worked with many different groups and organisations, from the National Federation of Youth Clubs to environmental health in Derry city council. She was a community development lecturer in Magee and worked with Derry Healthy Cities, the Children’s Commission in Derry and was manager of Ballymagroarty-Hazelbank Community Partnership. She was involved with Creevagh in Hazelbank and before she died, she had just started working with a group of patients and advocates in Clarendon medical centre.
She showed imagination, innovation and creativity. She was also a disruptor when she needed to be – she was not slow in challenging the system for the betterment of the ordinary person. She often ruffled the feathers of those in power.
Carmel wanted to make this a better world for everybody – especially women – and with her personality she helped to create joy and positivity in all she did.
Carmel wanted to make this a better world for everybody – especially women – and with her personality she helped to create joy and positivity in all she did
he was a tireless advocate for global and environmental justice and her contribution to women’s health and well-being will not be forgotten.
Carmel Mulrine died on March 10 and was buried after Requiem Mass at St Eugene’s Cathedral, where mourners were invited to wear bright colours at her request.
Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dilis.