Mary B is a community woman at heart

Mary B Gallagher describes Achill as her heart, and sitting chatting to her, it’s easy to understand why. A native of the island, she has lived and worked there all her life. Now based in Achill Tourism, she is at the centre of a thriving industry but also immerses herself in the community side of things. Mary B is President of the local branch of St Vincent De Paul, a branch that was revived when a demand for such services was experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

On a sunny afternoon in March, we sit in the Achill Tourism offices and chat about Mary B’s journey to where she is now.

Angelina: Mary B, thanks for chatting with me. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Mary B: I'm from Bunnacurry, which is the centre of the island. My mother was from Achill Sound, my father was from Bunnacurry. I have one brother and one sister. So I started off in Bunnacurry National School, and then I went to the old Vocational School in Cashel. I didn't do the Leaving Certificate, instead I went and did a two-year commercial course - at that time it was typing and shorthand. There was a big emphasis on shorthand back then. 

Later on, I started working in The Grove Bed and Breakfast for the McHugh family in Bunnacurry - it was a very successful business. They also had a shop, and then later on, their daughter had another business here in Achill Sound. So you could find me anywhere doing anything within that business. I worked with them for 21 years. I have great memories from working in The Grove.

Angelina: So what kind of work did you do there?

Mary B: They had a bed and breakfast, and at that time, Phil McHugh was a member of Fáilte Ireland and they used to offer packages to stay there - so your bed and breakfast and meals. So I could be cooking, baking or making beds. You name it, we did it. It really was a busy spot. And then they had the unique caravan shop. I'd say every tourist that stood on the island stopped in it at some stage and there was everything there from a needle to an anchor in it. I don't know where Phil fitted all the stuff. She was open seven days a week - it could be open until midnight.

Angelina: You were there for 21 years. Where was the next part of your journey then Mary B?

Mary B: Leaving The Grove was a big shock to the system - I was there for 21 years. But I was lucky enough to start with Achill Tourism and I will be 17 years here this May. It's gone  in the blink of an eye, I can't believe it.

Angelina: I'd imagine Achill Tourism is a busy spot to work in?

Mary B: Absolutely. We have three offices. We have an office in Keel, one in Achill Sound and then we have another office on the Greenway. So two of those offices open seven days a week. The one here in Achill Sound opens six days a week. So it is a busy spot. But no two days are the same.

Angelina: I'd imagine there is no typical day but always something happening?

Mary B: Even in the depths of winter you don't know what you'll be asked - from a phone call from someone trying to organise scattering somebody's ashes on the island to somebody who maybe wants to get married on Keem Bay or on the beach. So no two days are the same. You just don't know what the query will be when you answer that phone.

Angelina: Your project here at Achill Tourism is the Achill Half Marathon and 10K event, is that right?

Mary B: Yes, that's my baby in Achill Tourism and this is the 19th year of it, so I've been involved in every year - even two years before I joined Achill Tourism, I was involved in Order of Malta duties. Once I started here, it became my baby. I'm always so happy on the second Sunday in July when it's all done and dusted! 

But it is getting bigger. And this year we sold out in the first week of February, we've never sold out as quickly. So we're delighted. 

And it is the start of the tourist season in Achill really. It kicks off at that stage. So it's a lot of hard work, a lot of pressure, but people seem to enjoy it. I love that moment, just when they've taken off running that morning - I think, all the work has finally come to fruition. We will have 1,400 runners between the 10K and the Half Marathon this year. And we have a waiting list at the minute too.

Angelina: And there's so much more happening here, Mary B, there are other festivals and events.

Mary B: We probably would have had a lot more festivals and events before Covid but we have the Achill Midsummer Walks Festival and then we help out with the other local festivals, like Féile Cill Damhnait, Féile Dooega is coming back this year. So any event that we can kind of help out at, we do. I'm always looking for volunteers to help with the marathon. So I feel I have to give back and if I'm free, I love to help out at those events as well. It's a lot of fun.

Angelina: And you work part-time in Gteic - the digital hub on Achill Island.

Mary B: I started that role about two years ago now. I do survey work with IPSOS. We do surveys for companies - so I work a couple of evenings a week calling people and doing different surveys. I enjoy the chat with people.

Angelina: Apart from your day job, you do immerse yourself in community work, Mary B?

Mary B: It's such a small community and it is nice to help out. I was involved in the Order of Malta. Rehab was my big fundraiser down through the years. I am President of Achill St Vincent de Paul since Covid-19 alongside a committee. So there is a lot of work in that but I'm enjoying it so far.

Angelina: St Vincent de Paul is such a vital charity now, isn't it?

Mary B: It is such a vital charity. And the one thing I would like to say to people is don't be embarrassed if you need to reach out to us. We aren't here to judge, only to help. We will help anyone we can. We know costs have gone through the roof for people and with bills coming in, it can be so difficult.

Angelina: What do you do on the ground in Achill with St Vincent De Paul?

Mary B: We have a designated phone number. There are four of us on our committee, and we take the phone in our turns, and if somebody rings up, we contact them and we find out the details. And then whatever issue or whatever help someone is looking for, we deal with that. And we're getting back to them within an hour, the next day, saying, 'Call into us, we'll help you'. And Westport St Vincent de Paul are extremely good to us. They supply us with food, hampers, and we have a stock of those that we just give out to people straight away if they need food.

Angelina: How did the branch of St Vincent De Paul come about in Achill?

Mary B: During Covid, we turned our office here in Achill Tourism into a Response Centre. And then we actually saw people who were coming to us and looking for help and we didn't have a clue what to do. So we contacted St Vincent De Paul in Galway and they were extremely good to us. There have been different committees down here throughout the years, but there just wasn't at that particular time.

Angelina: The Covid Response Centre was a very important resource during the pandemic, Mary B?

Mary B: We were the hub. Two of us would come in three days per week. Our volunteers and ourselves would do the shopping - people would bring in their shopping list or what they needed. It wasn't just the elderly, it was people who were isolating at the time for various reasons. If they needed prescriptions, they would ring us here and we would get it for them. Then TFI Local Link Mayo came on board and would deliver their shopping to their doors a few times per week. So Chris McCarthy, our manager here in Achill Tourism, coordinated it all. It was a big undertaking. We won a number of awards for it - a Volunteer Ireland Award and a Covid Comms Award for Best Community Initiative.

Angelina: What keeps you driven, Mary B?

Mary B: I loved being involved in my community. And then sometimes you are so immersed in it, you don't realise, you just go from one project to the next. Achill is my heart. I love it.

Angelina: Why would you encourage people to get involved in community initiatives?

Mary B: Well, I think there's a great sense of achievement when you help somebody out. Sometimes people are afraid to take the first step in getting involved in their community but once you take the leap, you won't regret it. Every little bit of difference helps - even if it's a little difference.

Angelina: What is it that makes Achill special, do you think?

Mary B: I suppose it's the beauty, but sometimes you don't appreciate it when it's on your own doorstep. When you talk to visitors during the summer, they're just blown away by the scenery and everything. We get up, it's here. There is so much to offer and so many different activities. It is a special place to live and work.