Donegal's Champion of the ‘Older People’ - Mary McGowan

As she says herself when I catch up with her recently, sprightly pensioner Mary McGowan is rarely short of words.
She has just returned from a school run to collect some of her grandchildren.
But the Donegal Town woman who has blazed a trail of community involvement and initiatives over the decades was left speechless when she was recently awarded the Hall of Fame lifetime achievement award at the Donegal Local Development Company’s (DLDC) award ceremony In Letterkenny.
Mary was actually present at the ceremony to support Donegal Animals in Need of which she is Chairperson since 2006, who were also recipients of an award on the night, but had no inkling of what lay ahead for herself.
“I was left speechless and totally dumbfounded, they were finishing up proceedings I thought, but there was one last award and they declared I was the recipient of the Lifetime achievement award,” she said.

For her endeavours Mary was presented by a most beautiful painting of Errigal Mountain after the surprise award recipient of 2022 Hall of Fame was announced by MC and Chair of DLDC Patsy McGonagle 

“Now I am rarely left speechless but this was one of the few times that I was caught short for a word,” Mary added.
“It was very humbling and I accepted it really for everybody that is my age and still actively contributing to life in Donegal, in whatever way they feel they can.”
She wears her age of 78 with pride and points out that while community involvement and development are vital components for the survival of any local community, people should not be waiting until retirement before they contemplate getting involved in local community groups or organisations.
“I’m involved or have been involved with the organisations (John Bosco Centre, Donegal Childcare committee, Animals in Need, Older People’s Council to name just a few) that I’m involved with because I think the work needs to be done and I enjoy getting involved and doing it.
“These days It’s not what am I going to get out of it but rather, what can we do for other older people or those who might need companionship or something to be happening.”

Mary McGowan, 2022 DLDC Hall of Fame recipient pictured with members of Animals In Need, Donegal, Gitte McMullin, Margaret Murphy and Margaret Plunkett who also received an award on the night. Well done!

I would be on a committee of the Older Person's Council in the county with the Age Friendly Alliance. But I have always been involved with Donegal Childcare.
“For older people Covid brought isolation very much to the core. It was ok for me living in the midst of my family.
“I would be in contact with people all the time but there are people living on their own out in rural areas, they may not have a phone or be very good with the phone. They may not have WiFi or the like and they are cut off in more ways than one.
“They can be afraid and there is alot of fear out there in the community and now with all of these cyber scares they are afraid to say anything or wonder who they can trust.
“They are also afraid to do anything and sometimes afraid to tell somebody something in the belief that it could be interpreted as something silly.

Pictured left to right on the awards night itself were left to right: Patsy McGowan, Chairman of DLDC, Mary McGowan, DLDC Hall of Fame Recipient and Padraic Fingleton, CEO of DLDC.

Mary points out that many women of her generation were at home and would not have been going to community management meetings or annual general meetings of the GAA.
“And what I would say to them now is to get involved with something in your own local area even if it is just going to your own local community centre.
“If there is a day centre, get out there and meet other people, get talking and you will find that there is always some little thing that you can do in and for the community. Just get involved, that is the most important thing.”
Mary does not dwell too much on herself and her amazing capacity to help others but points out that becoming a widow at a young age combined with the needs of her children saw her gravitate into the areas to which she has now dedicated a lifetime of dedication.
A nobler recipient of a lifetime achievement award in this country would be hard to find. Well done Mary on a fitting accolade.