Mary McGlynn née McEniff recalled as a caring employer and tourism innovator

Hotelier and county councillor Micheál Naughton has paid tribute to Mary McGlynn, Bundoran. 

Mary, née McEniff, of Lissadell Ave, West End, Bundoran, and formerly of the Holyrood Hotel and The Great Northern Hotel, died on Thursday, May 8. 

In her funeral notice, Mary’s family said: “She died peacefully surrounded by her loving family and in the exceptional care of all at The North West Hospice, The Mall, Sligo whose compassion, care and support for Mary and her family will never be forgotten.”

At the May meeting of the Municipal District (MD) of Donegal, Cllr Naughton (FF) who is also manager of the Clanree Hotel, spoke about his time working for Mary and her husband Philip in the early days of his hospitality career. 

He said: “30 years ago I worked in the Great Northern Hotel, and Philip and Mary were my bosses there. 

“I found Mary to be a very good employer, a very caring person, a mother figure. 

“Her passion for Bundoran tourism over the years was exceptional. She had a great love for where she came from. She was one of the people who started up Waterworld in Bundoran. She was ahead of her time. 

“Sean and Brian were both well known figures, but Mary was the instigator, always in the background doing a huge amount of work. She sat on tourism boards and the Waterworld management, as well as being a town councillor in Bundoran. 

“She was quite an unassuming person. She went about her job in a very nice and professional manner, and was always very caring to her staff. I have fond memories of the staff being taken out to Marlborough House in Bundoran.”

Cllr Naughton said that leaving behind his family and coming to work in Donegal was made a lot easier by Mary’s warm and welcoming nature. 

“It was very homely for me,” he said. “Leaving a family of 12 in Sligo and coming to Bundoran, Mary made me feel part of the family circle. 

“Her passing is a huge loss to Philip, Philip John and all the family, but they can look back with pride on what they have achieved.”

Cllr Michael McMahon concurred, saying: “I sat on the board of Waterworld with Mary for many years and it is a fantastic tourism product, the envy of a lot of towns.

“The family has done a lot for the town in terms of tourism development and entertainment.”

Mary will be forever loved and sadly missed by her loving family, her devoted husband Philip, her cherished son Philip John, her brothers Brian (Cautie) McEniff and Dr Liam McEniff, and all her many nieces, nephews, the extended McGlynn and McEniff families and all her relatives, neighbours and friends.

She is predeceased by her beloved parents John and Elizabeth and her brothers Sean and Pat.

She was laid to rest in St Ninnidh’s Cemetery, Bundoran following Mass of the Resurrection in St Aidan’s Church, Kinlough, on Sunday, May 11. 

Mary’s family have expressed their thanks to the staff of Ballyshannon Community Hospital and the doctors, nurses and staff of Sligo University Hospital and The North West Hospice for their care, compassion and kindness shown to Mary.