Mary was a Travelling woman originally from Cashel, Co Tipperary
Blind from birth, she brought up 18 children on the road, in the latter days, without a husband
She had a large repertoire of traditional songs and an equally large one of Country and Western ones, which she refused to sing because, "I only remember them because that's what the lads ask for in the pub"
We recorded her in London for about five years when she moved off and we lost touch - she died sometime around 2005, in Blackpool, Cork City - that was the last place we met her
She can be heard on' the double CD, 'From Puck to Appleby' and is included on the Topic, 'Voice of the People' series
Irish, 'Lyric Radio' ran a very pleasing series of 3 programmes on our work with Travellers entitled, 'Come All You Loyal Travellers' on which Mary and other Irish singers feature
If anybody would like to hear them I can send copies - just ask
Jim