Mayo community 'heartbroken' following death of Yes campaigner

The death of one of the leading campaigners for a Yes vote in the same-sex marriage referendum in Mayo has been met with great sadness in the county.

Marina Tuffy passed away peacefully at her home in Currane, Achill on Monday morning following a lengthy journey with cancer.

The Belcarra native was one of the leading campaigners for a Yes vote in the same-sex marriage referendum in Mayo in 2015.

She also worked as the link worker with the Flourish social prescribing service in the Achill and surrounding area for the past three years. She only retired from her position in August and many members of the local community came out in force in the Glór na dTonn community centre to honour her.

In recent years, Marina and her wife of eleven years Cynthia Silva moved to Currane after renovating an old house in the area and they both became integral members of the local community.

Miriam Byrne, who moved to Currane from Dublin four years ago said that Marina and Cynthia were integral in helping her settle and a dark cloud was hanging over the Gaeltacht community.

“Marina was cherished by all the community in Currane and everyone is heartbroken this morning after hearing the sad news. Marina had a wide circle of friends and was loved by many and this was evident by the large numbers who attended her retirement in August. She filled a room with her presence and warmth simply by entering it.

“She is an incredible powerhouse of energy, fun, laughter and there is nothing that is too much for her and she can turn her hand to anything. The joy she gave me both professionally and as a friend is unmeasurable. Marina will be greatly missed,” she said.

READ: Traditional weekend returns to Mayo town for its tenth year

Prior to moving to Currane, Marina raised her four children, after her husband Tomás died suddenly in 2000 when they were young. She then trained as a Gestalt psychotherapist, and was a leader in the Mayo, Yes Equality Campaign, and later Marriage Equality campaigns.

She was active in the Achill community and was involved in a number of musical productions as a member of the Achill Musical and Dramatic Society.

Flourish is one of the support services provided by the Family Centre in Castlebar and helps adults of all ages to explore ways to meet new people, develop new interests and hobbies.

Speaking at Marina's retirement function in August, Máire Ní Dhomhnaill, the director at the Family Centre said that she could spend the day praising Marina's virtues and the impact she had on the Flourish team in Castlebar.

“I keep saying it that I and the team in the Family Centre and Flourish and the community in Currane who you support love you deeply,” she said to great applause.

“I have never come across a more inspirational woman and there is a pair of you. Cynthia and yourself are magnificent and amazing and a lesson to us all on living life and living it well.

“You are an amazing woman and we love you and cherish you,” she added.

Marina is survived by her wife Cynthia Silva and her adult children, TJ, Siofra, Siobhan and Aoife Tuffy, relatives and wide circle of friends.

She will be reposing at her residence at Gub na hAirde, Currane on Tuesday from 12 noon until 8pm. The celebration of her life will be in Glór na dTonn on Wednesday at 12noon, followed by cremation at McGowan’s Crematorium in Sligo.