Missionary took on communist regime

The Clare Association in Dublin held its annual dinner dance in the Carlton Hotel, Dublin last Saturday night, where Sr Maura O’Donoghue and Robbie McMahon were honoured.

It is quite the contrast from attending a small national school in Kilshanny and being interrogated by a tough communist regime in Ethiopia. But Sister Maura O’Donoghue has experienced both situations during a lifetime that has been mostly devoted to community health in Africa.
A native of Lickeen, Kilfenora, Sr Maura, a qualified doctor and member of the Medical Missionaries of Mary, has spent many years looking after the sick and hungry in Nigeria and Ethiopia. Her endeavours in establishing a wide range of healthcare and support services in Africa came to the notice of Muintir an Chláir in Dublin, who presented her with their People of the Year award last Saturday.
In accepting the award, she told of her experiences in Nigeria and Ethiopia and said she was accepting the award in appreciation of the generous people who supported her in her work.
Sr Maura is one of four children of the late Andrew and Katherine (Baby) O’Donoghue. Both her parents came from Lickeen and her mother was the former Katherine O’Brien. Of her siblings, Anne is in Cleveland, USA; Jimmy in Lickeen and Paddy in Gortown.
After attending Kilshanny, her secondary education took place in Mountmellick before she entered the Medical Missionaries of Mary in Dublin. Her first year was spent studying medicine in university and she interrupted her studies to do her novitiate year. She returned as a second-year novitiate to continue her studies. In 1958, she went to Nigeria where she worked in a hospital. She was then called home and put on the general council of Mother Mary Martin. During this time in Ireland, she was also regional superior for Europe. She then went to Ethiopia and also worked in a hospital in Italy for some time. It was then that the Socialist-Communist regime started in Ethiopia.
She told The Clare Champion that when she arrived in Ethiopia, there were the first rumblings of revolution. “The missionaries faced some fairly troubled times. I was interrogated by them for four hours every Friday. This lasted for 18 months,” she said.
She said the communists wanted to get rid of foreigners or anyone associated with a church.
“I held tough,” she added, having spent 14 years there.
During that time, she was medical superintendent of a hospital that had 54 out-reach clinics. Over a period of two months in a year, she supervised all the out-reach clinics living in tents along the way.
On behalf of the Catholic Secretariat in Addis Ababa, she also co-ordinated famine relief work and attempted to control serious cholera epidemics.
On returning to live in the Congregation Centre and Communications Department of the Medical Missionaries of Mary at Booterstown, County Dublin, she began working with UK charity CAFOD and since 1986, was responsible for the HIV-AIDS desk. This took her to 72 different countries. Over a period of four and a half years, she also undertook emergency programmes dealing with famines, floods and wars.
Now in retirement, Sr Maura has undertaken work in countering human trafficking.
The function in Dublin was also attended by her brothers Paddy and Jimmy; nieces, Mary Kelly (Dublin), Margaret McGrath (Kilfenora) and Catherine McMahon (Lisdoonvara) and cousins.

Economic challenges facing the people
THE achievements of Robbie McMahon and Sr Maura O’Donoghue were outlined by chairman of the Clare Association, Liam O’Looney.
Presenting the two awards, he noted, “Clare is a very proud county and there are a number of prominent and successful people that have attained success and recognition at national and international level over the years”.
He said the new economic situation presents challenges for everyone but added, “I am confident, we will reach new heights in the local, national and international stage once again, despite the current difficulties”.
Speaking of Spancilhill’s Robbie McMahon, Mr O’Looney said the association’s Hall of Fame award honours people that go way beyond the call of duty. Known for his traditional singing and composing far and wide, Robbie McMahon is a star son of the Banner and his famous song The Fleadh Down in Ennis written in 1956 was a great success story for him.
Many programmes have been made over the years about Robbie and some months ago, he gave a wonderful performance in Clontarf, Mr O’Looney noted. Fiona McMahon of Quin, a daughter of Robbie, thanked the association on behalf of her father, who also contributed to the occasion with a rendition of the song that made him a worldwide known personality.
Mr O’Looney then told guests that Sr Maura O’Donoghue comes from a very Republican family. Her father, Andrew was in charge of the North Clare IRA Brigade during the War of Independence and her mother and aunts also took great risks during the times.
He noted that Sr Maura joined the Medical Missionaries of Mary at a time when it was unusual to have religious sisters in medicine and surgery and that she has a very distinguished career in missionary work, initiating welfare schemes and clinics for the poor all over the world.
The attendance also included Monsignor Tom Stack, who has strong Clare connections; Scariff-born Monsignor Loran O’Brien, curator and member of the council for the Archdiocese of Dublin and Fr John McNamara, PP Swords, who is a native of Kilfenora.
A proud Crusheen man at the function was Pat O’Donnell, president of the association, as the Canon Hamilton Trophy, which was won by Crusheen last year for the first time in the club’s history, was on display at the top table, as was the Jack Daly Cup, won by Doonbeg.
Br Sean MacNamara from Ennis was a colourful MC for the occasion and music was supplied by the Foghla Céilí Band.
The association’s annual meeting will be held in Wynn’s Hotel, Dublin on Wednesday, March 30 at 8pm.

Willie Walsh bows out as patron
RETIRED Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, will end his term as patron of the Clare Association in Dublin when the association holds its annual general meeting at the end of March.
On that occasion, the recently ordained Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Kieran O’Reilly, will become the new patron.
Bishop Walsh noted last Saturday night that he was privileged to attend the function as patron for the past 18 years. He remarked that when he attended the All-Ireland hurling final in Croke Park last September, the native broke out in him when Tipperary won.
However, since his retirement, he is still very much part of Clare life. He stated he has had a number of invitations to re-cross the River Shannon but has not stirred from Ennis, which has been very good to him in the past.
He said when he retired as Bishop of Killaloe last August, he left with a great sense of gratitude to the people of Clare for their kindness and support.
He paid tribute to the Hall of Fame winner, Robbie McMahon for the entertainment he has provided over the years and Sr Maura on her achievements.
He said many people did not realise the amount of work being done across the world by people like Sr Maura in working with the poor.