Mayo woman who changed history dies aged 100
D-Day heroine Maureen Sweeney pictured in Tí Aire Nursing Home in Belmullet with her award from the US House of Representatives Picture: Tom Reilly
A Mayo woman whose weather forecast changed the course of history has died aged 100.
Maureen Sweeney (nee Flavin), Blacksod, Belmullet and formerly of Listowel, Co Kerry has died peacefully yesterday at Sonas Ti Aire Nursing Home, Belmullet.
She was known for the key role she played in the D-Day landings during the Second World War.
On June 3, 1944, Maureen, then aged 21, was taking hourly weather readings at Blacksod lighthouse which were phoned in secret to London.
Maureen forecast a severe Atlantic storm and her report led to the Allies delaying the timing of the D-Day landings at Normandy, the largest seaborne invasion in history and an operation that changed the course of the Second World War.
She was given a special award by the US House of Representatives for her vital weather forecast.
Maureen’s funeral mass will take place at noon on Friday, in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Aughleam, followed by burial in Faulmore Cemetery.
