Mary Buckley from Mallow has been named one of three Munster finalists in the Woman’s Way and Beko Mum of the Year Competition. Mother of seven and grandmother of five, Mary was nominated by her daughter Anne-Marie, who wrote: “Words cannot describe the year we have all been through.”
Mary’s husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2015, and she, along with her children, cared for him at home until his death in March 2016. “We couldn’t have done it without the support of one another,” says Mary, “the help of one another. We keep one another going.”
Always keen to help others, Mary visits the elderly in her locality while helping her daughter Audrey with childcare, looking after her two sons who have special needs. To date, Mary has raised €23,000 for charities such as the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, Suicide Aware and Bóthar, including others.
Fifteen mums have been chosen to attend the final of the Mum of the Year Competition, which will be held in July, with the overall winner receiving €3,000 worth of Beko home appliances. Each finalist will receive prizes of upwards of €250. Judges for the competition are Norah Casey, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Mary Byrne and Alison Canavan.