'Love of all things Irish' - Mayo native (99) dies after life in Canada

IT is with heavy hearts that the family of Mayo born Mary Theresa Coffey (neé McKeown) announced her passing on April 24, 2025 in her 100th year. Westport native Mary spent her last weeks surrounded by family, love, music and prayer.

Mary was predeceased by her husband, Ben Coffey, her brother David McKeown (Monica), her son David Coffey and her grandson Sean Gould. She will be greatly missed by her children Paul (Christine), Anne Dillabaugh (the late Brian), Maureen Virtue, Clare, Brendan (Lisa Danso), Una Gould (Scott Jenkins) and Maeve Dick (Mike Giles) as well as her 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Her many friends and extended family in Canada, Ireland and Australia will remember her fondly. Mary was born in Westport in 1925. After obtaining her senior matriculation from Sacred Heart School in Westport, Mary joined the Irish Post Office as a telegraphist. There, she met Ben Coffey, and the two were married in July 1952.

In 1955, Mary and Ben immigrated to Canada and settled in Toronto with their two oldest children. They went on to have six more children in Canada. When they settled in Ottawa a few years later, they quickly became involved in the thriving Irish community there.

Mary pursued her love of all things Irish throughout her life. She was a founding member of the Irish Society of Ottawa and became its first treasurer and later, its first woman president. She contributed to the success of the Tara Players, was a founding member of the Ottawa Gaels Gaelic Football Club and was deeply involved with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

In the 1990s she was invited to ride in Ottawa’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade in recognition of her service to the Irish community. In her later years, she co-founded the Irish seniors’ drop-in group, a group that is still active today.

Growing up, Mary spoke English at home and developed a great love of the Irish language while in school. In pursuit of this interest, she became a founding member of an Irish language group in Ottawa.

She shared her knowledge and teaching skills at many Irish language weekend retreats, in evening classes through the Ottawa School Board and through informal classes in her home.

She was the catalyst for the publication of two books that documented the experiences of her friends and students growing up in Ireland and adjusting to life in Canada.

In February of 2020, the Irish Ambassador to Canada welcomed Mary into his home for a formal dinner at which she was honoured for her Extraordinary Contribution to the Irish Community in Ottawa for more than 65 years.

She also received a Certificate of Appreciation for her outstanding contribution to the success of the Irish Society of the National Capital Region and the Founders’ Award from the Ottawa Gaels Football Club.

Mary’s dedication to the promotion of Irish culture was recognised on the Ireland Canada Monument in Vancouver, BC.
The Coffey family, Ottawa, Canada stated: “Our house was always filled with music, conversation, children and prayer. It was not uncommon for our family to welcome an extra ‘lodger’ to live with us for a few weeks or months until they got on their feet in a new country.

Mom was fondly dubbed ‘Mother Coffey’ by many of those young Irish hopefuls who eventually settled in Canada. The many parties in our Gatineau home and fundraisers in the old Coachhouse were punctuated by great songs, creative storytelling and lots of music, with Mom always at the ready with a welcoming smile, a cup of tea and an open heart. She was kind to everyone.

“Mom will be remembered for her deep love of family, her passion for the Irish language, music and culture, her integrity and compassion, her deep Catholic faith and the example she set in all aspects of her life.

She never forgot her Westport roots and loved to make the trip home to see relatives and old friends. We are forever grateful for the lessons, the joys and the love our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother shared with us.

She was proud of us all.”

READ: Mayo’s ‘Yes’ Changed My Life: Coming Home, Love, and the Power of Acceptance