Marie McAuliffe lived in Sandymount most of her life, where her husband owned the local chemist shop and she reared six children. She was a well-known character, full of life and famous for her mischievous humour.

Marie McAuliffe was a great swimmer. Her son remembers as a young boy on Silver Strand when she she swam out of sight to retrieve a beach ball blowing out to sea– the wind was faster and fortunately she gave up before she reached Wales. A competitive swimmer, she represented her club in many regattas and went for her last swim in the ocean at Seapoint at the age of 92.

A musician, pianist and songster, she was central to many entertaining parties both at home and in Elm Park Golf Club, where for many years she was an active member. Marie had a great talent for poetry and many of her poems have been printed in past issues of ‘NewsFour’.

Her friends and family remember her great gardening talents too. She loved flowers and gardening and was very proud of her garden full of colour and summer fruits. We hear that she wasn’t behind the door in a little subterfuge– occasionally plastic flowers bloomed out of season in her front garden!

Marie resumed her career as an art teacher when her children were older, first in Roslyn Park and then with various clubs and societies.She also became an active member of the ICA and her beloved Toastmasters.

In her 70s she gave PE classes to what she termed ‘elderly ladies’ and she delivered meals on wheels well into her 80s, until she was persuaded to part with her little car.

After her husband’s death in 1992, Marie made several visits to her daughters Kak in Canada and to Evey in New Zeland, where we are told her energy took the locals by surprise, and of course her love of a party brought many more new friends into her life.

Marie died in Leeson Park Nursing Home, where for many years she still indulged in visits to theatre, bridge, parties and of course the Toastmasters courtesy of family and her many dear friends.
Ni Fheicimid a leithéad arís.

Miserére (Mount Carmel Hospital)
Oh Pain, my unwanted companion, be gone!
Unbidden, you came; unrivalled, you rule
My body, a play-thing that writhes at your will,
A puppet that answers each string that you pull,
Now darkness unequalled surrounds me as faster
I spin in a whirlpool of torture and pain.
Wracked and tormented, I beg God for comfort,
And know that my pleadings shall not be in vain,
As once in a garden You suffered Your torment,
Forgotten, neglected, You prayed there alone.
Bid pain– that relentless one– ever more leave me,
Not my will, dear Jesus, but Thy will be done.
By Marie McAuliffe

Buried Treasure
I’m digging in my garden
And my heart begins to sing,
As I’m burying my treasure
That I’ll find again in Spring.

I’ve handfuls of gold dust
That I’ll scatter near the gate,
And underneath the cherry tree
Are ‘pieces of eight’.

If the weatherman says ‘Blizzards’,
Snow– or any other thing,
I won’t worry, as my treasure
Will be safe until the Spring.

I’ll have daffodils and crocuses,
And my heart again will sing
As I see my ‘treasures’ blossom
I will thank God for Spring.
By Marie McAuliffe

Above: Marie pictured with her great grand daughter Aisling.