Sadness in Achill following death of Mayo Special Olympian Mary Henry

The death of Special Olympian Mary Henry from Achill who won a gold medal at the 2007 Special Olympics has been met with sadness across the west Mayo parish.

A native of Belfarsad, Achill, Mary won a gold and a silver medal while representing Team Ireland in the 2007 Special Olympics which took place in Shanghai in China.

She passed away on Saturday morning in Mayo University Hospital and her death was met with great sadness in Achill.

Mary was at the centre of community life in Achill and Currane where she regularly attended the whist and 25 card games and helped out with the bingo in Glór na dTonn community centre in Currane. She was also well known among the Newport community having attended the Western Care run Newport Day Centre since 1992.

It was while at the Newport Day Centre where Mary first got involved in equestrian and attended the Drumindoo Equestrian Centre in Westport. She soon got involved with Special Olympics Ireland and qualified to represent Ireland at the 2007 Special Olympic Games in Shanghai.

In China, Mary and her horse, Torres - named after her favourite Liverpool player at the time, Fernando Torres - brought back a gold and a silver medal to Achill.

Mary's achievements brought great pride to Achill and she received a rapturous welcome on her return from China.

Muintir a'Chorrain, the local community group in Currane paid tribute to Mary on their Facebook page where they stated that she was a much loved member of the community

“It was with a very heavy heart and great sadness that we learned of the passing of Mary Henry, Belfarsad, on Saturday morning.

“Mary was highly regarded and much loved by all her neighbours in the village of Belfarsad and in the wider Currane and Achill communities.

“She was involved in everything in the community, she helped out at the bingo in Glór na dTonn and at the local whist and 25 card games in Currane. She was Mary D’s right hand woman.

“No Christmas Party in Currane was complete until Mary performed the brush dance and sang Danny Boy accompanied by Michael Mac and Cheers.

“Mary Henry represented Team Ireland in the Special Olympics in Shanghai in 2007, who along with her horse Torres won two gold medals. On being congratulated on her success she reminded the person that Torres had also played a part in the win. That statement typified Mary. She was a very straight talker.When Mary arrived home from Shanghai her success was celebrated far and wide and her win lifted the Parish.

“We will remember Mary for her staunch love of Liverpool and Mayo, her embracing hugs and her love of music.

“Mary attended the last Flourish Music Circle in Currane a few short weeks ago. There was great fáilte for her. Her great and lifelong friend John Hoban, sang You’ll Never Walk Alone and Danny Boy especially for Mary.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to Mary’s brothers and sisters and the extended Henry family,” the post read.

Westport-based councillor Brendan Mulroy who got to know Mary through his work in the Newport Day Centre also paid tribute to Mary. He posted on his Facebook page: 'If there was ever an angel sent on this earth her name would be Mary Henry'.

Mary is survived by her brothers, Domnic, Tommy, Thady, Joey, John and Patrick; sisters, Anne, Patricia, Caroline, Breege, Catherine and Denise, her many nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, her wonderful neighbours and friends.

Her Funeral Mass will take place on Monday, March 4 in Columba’s Church, Belfarsad, at 11am with burial afterward in Polranny Cemetery, Achill Sound.