If three words could sum up Mary Mulligan, it might be ‘strong, stoic and selfless’.
Her strength was often witnessed in adversity: living and running a business in troubled times, and raising a large family following the premature death of her husband.
But her unselfish, generous nature was also evident in her dedication to supporting others in the community, from her work with the Legion of Mary and Apostolic Society, to the Women’s Institute, the Widows’ Association and those working with the visually impaired.
All of this she did without fuss and away from the limelight.
In the words of Fr Kevin Duffy at her funeral at Sacred Heart Church in Irvinestown: “Mary left her mark on this world – a legacy of love, fidelity and kindness. She had faith in abundance and great inner strength – her trust was in God.”
One of six children of Patrick and Agnes Reihill, Mary was born and raised in the Central Bar on Main Street in Irvinestown, where she divided her time between serving drinks in the pub and milking cows on the family farm.
Her father, who had grown up on Tranis island and rowed to school each day, was an enterprising man and a local councillor whose entrepreneurial spirit rubbed off on Mary.
After leaving school at 14, like many of her generation, she went straight into the world of work and as a young woman she opened her own general shop on Church Street.
After meeting and marrying Philip Mulligan, a Glaswegian visiting family in Fermanagh, they expanded the business to open The Rayhill Cafe, better known as ‘Mulligan’s’.
Philip’s death in 1979 left Mary raising a family of seven largely alone. However, being from a generation born into the great depression, and living through World War II, she drew on enormous amounts of inner resolve and was utterly dedicated to her children’s welfare and well-being.
Extremely active in the local community, Mary had a passion for social history and the names and stories of the area. Having grown up in a bar and known many service people, some of whom would tragically not return from war, she was a font of historical, cultural and familial knowledge and contributed to several local publications.
Even in ill health she remained great company, telling jokes and stories. While not an overly sensitive person, her family said she was a person of “enormous sensitivity”.
Mary Mulligan was 97 when she died on August 20 at her Church Street home. She was buried on her wedding anniversary, with Fr Duffy telling mourners: “Sixty-eight years ago, she walked up this aisle on this very day. Today, she was proudly followed by her family as she was brought up the aisle, and there’s something lovely in that.”
Predeceased by her husband, pictured above on their wedding day, and siblings Patsy, Brian, Fr Seamus, Una and John, Mary is survived by her children Seamus, Philomena, Elizabeth, Philip, Paul, Thomas and Dermot and family circle.