It was with great sadness that DCM heard of the passing of former Chairperson and founder member of DCM, who died unexpectedly March 22nd 2023. Her funeral took place from Ballally parish church in Dundrum, and was very well attended, reflecting her varied career and extensive commitment to the community welfare sector.
Máire spent a good part of her working life as a teacher of deaf students. She demonstrated a very strong commitment to helping the disadvantaged in society. She was very artistic, and she possessed a quick wit. Máire was involved with DCM from its start in 1995, and she led its development over the first 15 years or so. She contributed strongly to the establishment of Community Mediation in Ireland, working with the MII, and pioneering the service in Tallaght. She conducted training programmes, and she continued to provide leadership and expertise to the service right up to 2016.
Máire was the prime mover in contacting the Court Service, to explore the possibility of a pilot mediation service to deal with neighbour disputes and environmental, health and nuisance regulations. This led to the establishment of the joint mediation pilot scheme, involving DCM, Ballymun and Coolock. As a result, volunteer mediators attend Court 23 on Fridays to assist disputants with neighbour disputes. This paused during the Covid restrictions, but recently representatives from DCM, Ballymun and Coolock met with Court officials in order to recommence this service. DCM is again supporting this service in April and May 2023.
In 2013 DCM provided a low-cost Community Mediation training programme, led and delivered by Máire and another veteran of community mediation, Maria Garvey. Twelve participants ranging from serving Gardaí to community activists were able to complete the course for a very small fee, resulting in a full FETAC registered training programme involving 10 sessions, with the potential for MII certification at the end.
Máire attended our celebration marking 25 years offering mediation to the community last June 2022 in Whitechurch Library. The current Board of Directors and current members were delighted to meet so many members who contributed to the service over many years, including Máire.
We offer our sincere condolences to Máire’s family and friends. She really was a special person. We thank her for her tireless work on behalf of DCM, and we commend her for her peacekeeping work in the community of South Dublin.
