Jun. 22, 2021

Mamo McDonald

Mamo McDonald, a founding member of the Bealtaine Writers, has died. Her influence on Ireland is immeasurable as an activist, a feminist, and a champion for change.. I knew her as a lovely poet, a woman with a strong sense of justice, and with a wicked humour. She founded the festival for older people, Bealtaine, while she was the President of Age and Opportunity out of which came our group, the Bealtaine Writers. In an interview in 1998 Mamo said:

 I've had three ambitions in my life -- that I wanted to do before I died: to build a house, to make a garden, and to write a book. So a few years ago I built a cottage.  And while it is a modern cottage inside, we used where we could old materials, so it looks like an old cottage that's been restored.  That gives me great satisfaction because I love that look.  And I'm making the garden.  And I started in 1977 to write a diary, and I've been keeping a journal ever since. So from those years I have a day to day book on my life.  And from the pages of those books, I have the material for the great Irish novel and all kinds of other things besides!  So if I have the time I'm going to write those, too.  I'm also writing quite a bit a of poetry and getting a great amount of satisfaction from that.There's all kinds of things I still want to do.  I maintain that when I turn up my toes, that they'll write as my epitaph, Dammit, she tried.

 Arlen House published her book of poetry, Circles, in 2015. Here are two poems, the first by Mamo, called Roadside Crosses, which was included in the group’s Second Anthology in 2013. The second poem, Mamo’s Haboo, is a tribute poem by Rosy Wilson, another founding member of the group and long-time friend of Mamo’s.

We will miss our great poet friend and at the same time we were honoured to know her. 

Comments

Amanda Curtin

22.06.2021 10:22

What a wonderful attitude to life! I met Mamo at Annaghmakerrig and will remember her with affection. Thank you for this lovely tribute, Peter.

Latest comments

25.11 | 22:15

Grief is experience through the mundane. Simple but powerful. The accompanying image really compliments the poem.

07.11 | 11:14

Hi Peter,

A great observation! Social media can be a scary place... I also need to reduce my time there

Hugs,

John.x

06.11 | 16:24

A great one, Peter, in the context you describe. I don't read social media myself, I doubt my equilibrium could stand it. 'The balance of his mind disturbed' yes, I think it would be.

06.11 | 15:59

Yes, gossip is a weapon of mass destruction.

In my business as well as personal life I have zero tolerance.

Share this page