Achill saddened by double tragedy

Achill woman dies three days after stepmother’s funeral


Edwin McGreal

One Achill family had to deal with a shocking double tragedy last week when retired school teacher Mary Quinn died suddenly only three days after her stepmother Anne Quinn was buried.
Mary Quinn (64) was swimming in the waters at Purteen, near Keel, on Achill Island, with her brother and her half-brother nearby, when she collapsed, dying of a suspected heart attack.
Her half-brother Paul Quinn was home from Boston for his mother’s funeral and had waited on in Achill for a few days when tragedy struck again.
Efforts were made to revive her on the shore but they proved unsuccessful. Her remains were taken to Mayo General Hospital for a post-mortem.
Mary had lived in Williamstown, Co Galway during her secondary school teaching career before retiring in Achill, living in Cuan Aoibhinn in Keel.
Her remains reposed at the Community Room at Cuan Aoibhinn on Sunday evening with funeral Mass yesterday morning at St Patrick’s Church in Pollagh and burial afterwards in Slievemore Cemetery.
Her father, the late Davy Quinn, was a well known teacher at the old Crumpaun NS, north of Keel, which is now closed and occupied by Comhlacht Forbartha Áitiúil Acla.
His first wife died at a relatively young age and some years later he married Anne. Davy Quinn had three children, Mary, PΡdraig and Kevin, with his first wife and one son, Paul, with his second wife.
Anne Quinn died at St Brendan’s Care Centre, Mulranny. She was a keen golfer and a large contingent from Achill Golf Club provided a Guard of Honour at her funeral.