‘Call after call from Crossmolina’ about Boston bombing

TERROR?The scene near the finish line of the Boston Marathon after a bomb explosion last week.?Pic: Flickr.com/hahatango

‘Call after call from Crossmolina’ about Boston bombings


Mayo native Maudy Dooher talks about a very violent week in her adopted city of Boston

EACH year we watch the marathon in Wellesley, it is at about the half way point. This year was no different. The kids and I went over there with my husband’s parents at around noon. We went to cheer on all those running but to especially cheer on my brother’s-in-law wife’s brother! He was running for charity and wearing a ‘burger suit’ for his charity’s sponsor. The kids got a great kick out of seeing him run by, with his burger tied around his waist. A Cork friend, from my old days of playing football with Roscommon (Boston), was also running and I was thrilled when I caught sight of her. She gave us the thumbs-up as she ran by. As runners passed we cheered and rang little bells.
It was such a fun and happy time, with the ages of the runners so extreme, as were the costumes. As it happened it was a gorgeous sunny day, not too hot but ideal for running. We stayed around until 2pm. When we came back home the kids played outside with their friends and all was rosy until one of the mothers came running out telling us there had been an explosion. Initially I thought it might be a gas explosion as there had been one three months ago in Boston. When we learned there had been a second one a gas explosion seemed unlikely. As news emerged of the types of injuries sustained, it became clear that this was more than likely a bomb. We immediately texted all our friends and were relieved that they were all safe.
But as we watched the news and saw the bloody pictures, shock and disbelief set in. Amputation was the word of the day, it seemed all those injured had some type of severe lower extremity wound. “Gaping flesh, legs blown off, shrapnel lodged in legs”, were the headlines. The images on the screen were gruesome.
It is so frightening to think that the area where the blasts took place was home to the World Irish Dancing Competition just a few weeks ago – Boston Convention Centre is literally just up the street. The girls and I had gone to watch the dancing, and had stopped in to the local Starbucks for coffee, which was now visible on the news with its windows shattered. Too close to home for comfort. My girls are Irish dancers and when word filtered down that a young boy, Martin Richard of Dorchester had died and his younger sister, Jane had lost a leg, and that she too was an Irish dancer, it was hard to keep a dry eye. This family is well known in the Irish community.
There has been such an outpouring of support for all of us who live in Boston. I have had call after call from Crossmolina and from friends and family who live outside the area. It has been the same for all my neighbours and friends here. It has been a strange and surreal week. We will continue to pray and remember all those maimed and dead. Boston has already set up a fund to help those involved in this tragic event. On Sunday our local Gaelic Youth Sports League raised money for the Richard Family Fund.
It has been a terrible week for Boston, but my family like many more will be there at Wellesley for next year’s Marathon and our cheers will be louder than ever.

Maudy Lynn Dooher has lived in Boston with her husband Tim and their two daughters for the last six years. She is a native of Crossmolina.