Thank you for taking the time to visit my memorial page for our Mother, Marie O’ Connor.

You are the loving hand

that kept us all together

drawn by your compassion

and ever smiling face.

You may not be beside us now

but you’ll always live on strong

in the hearts of all who met you

and felt your tender warmth.

Your innocence and kindness

were so lovely to be around

we’ll miss you Mom with all our hearts

you were a gift on loan.

© Julie Ann O’ Connor

In honour of my beautiful Mom I’m going to walk from Feakle in East Clare to Athenry in Co. Galway, via the Nursing Home in Loughrea where she lived for the last few years. Marie died in October and life is not the same without her here, she was a much loved Wife, Mom, Granny, Mother in law, Sister, Cousin, Aunt & friend to many. As a family we’re all still readjusting and finding our feet & although we know she’s always with us in heart and spirit, it’s her physical presence we’re so missing now. I’m doing this walk in honour of her life, as an expression of gratitude for all the times she walked side by side with us & others who benefitted from her kind & supportive ways & also as a physical way to help process my grief. I find walking always helps.

On Saturday the 16th of April I will walk from Feakle, East Clare to Gort, Co. Galway (26km). The following day my sister Maria will join me and we’ll walk from Gort to St. Brendans Community Nursing Home in Loughrea (25Km), where Mom lived for the last few years. Our Dad still lives there so we’ll stop off and have a cuppa & a catch up. On Monday the 18th we’ll walk from St. Brendans to Athenry (24kms), where Mom lived & is buried. I chose this weekend as Monday the 18th is Moms birthday, so happy birthday Mom.

We’re glad to be fundraising for Ciunas Centre CLG, Western Alzheimers and the Parkinsons Association of Ireland. Each of these charities provided support to either Mom or myself over the years and this is a small way of saying thank you to them, and also helping to raise awareness of the great work they do. Ciunas Centre is a wonderful charity based in East Clare who provide affordable wellbeing therapies. Mom used to really enjoy going to have a treatment, and always came home feeling better for the kindness, understanding and care she received there. The Irish Alzheimers Society & the Parkinsons Association of Ireland do so much to help people living with these conditions, along with their families, loved ones, and society in general by raising awareness, offering guidance & training and helping to cultivate more understanding and caring environments.

All funds raised will go directly to these 3 charities. We hope you can help us by donating whatever you can. Simply click the Donate button above. All donations are processed securely. You can also share my page using Share. This is a great way to show your support. Many thanks for your support & wishing you all the very best.

No more holding hands,

No more helping frail arms into familiar cardigans,

No more slow walks,

No more talking names and stories that help bring a shine of comfort to her eyes,

No more seeing the years drop away as loving young voices tell Granny so many stories all mixed in together at exuberant speed.

Their voices and sharing bringing smiles that no one else could stir in her.

With them she is a young girl sharing joy and ease with another,

pure delight, dropped onto the bog floor from the basket of the ass,

rocking her baby brother in her arms as her Mother tended the others,

older eyes looking out from her young, pale, freckled face.

Wrapping gifts with gentle precision, each eagle-eyed fold a hidden declaration of the love & care she will never utter in words, but trusts you will one day recognise.

Misunderstood.

Too late I recognise,

and miss the chance to hold again her paper thin life worn hand in mine.

© Julie Ann O’ Connor

In Memory of Marie O' Connor

Created by Julie Ann O' Connor

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