The death occurred on Tuesday, July 21 of Mary Bridget McAuliffe (née Sweeney), Kill, Dunfanaghy.
Well known all over the north-west, Mary was well respected within her local community and in business, and for many years ran the popular McAuliffe’s Craft Shop in Dunfanaghy.
In January, she was joined by family and friends to celebrate her 105th birthday. She died peacefully last Tuesday at Falcarragh Community Hospital, surrounded by her loving family and the dedicated medical and care team.
Mary was born in Falcarragh on January 31, 1921. Her dad, Michael, was a native of Falcarragh while her mum, Cassie (née McFadden), was originally from Dore, Gaoth Dobhair.
She spent some years with her granny in Dore and attended the former Knockastolar NS. She secured a scholarship to attend an agricultural college in Cork.
Her mother Cassie opened a drapery shop in Falcarragh in the 1920s. When the young Mary completed her education in Cork she returned home to Falcarragh where sadly her mum had passed away.
The Sweeney’s Corner heritage stone in Falcarragh was unveiled in 2023 by sisters Mary McAuliffe (née Sweeney) and Greta Sweeney to commemorate their family’s deep-rooted business history in the area. They are pictured with Mary’s daughter Ann McNamara and her grandson Conor McNamara.
Mary, aged only 17 at the time, took over the running of the shop and introduced stylish clothing, renaming it Sweeney’s Fashion Shop.
Her sister Gretta went to Dublin to study fashion design and she had her own label called ‘Glenveagh’ which centred around handwoven Donegal tweed. Mary said they would stock all the modern stylish clothing in the shop at the time.
Mary met Jack McAuliffe, who was originally from Cork.
He was a pharmacist and had a chemist in Dunfanaghy.
After their marriage, Mary opened a shop above the chemist. She worked here for many years in what was known as the Tweed and Fashion Shop. It would later morph into McAuliffe’s Craft Shop.
The shop became one of the most familiar businesses along the Wild Atlantic Way before closing its doors in 2024 after many years of successful trading.
Mary had always played a very important part in the life of the local community including Holy Cross Church, St Vincent De Paul, the Ozanam Centre and Dunfanaghy Workhouse.
Her funeral Mass was celebrated in Holy Cross Church, Dunfanaghy on Friday, July 24, followed by burial in the adjoining graveyard.
She was predeceased by her husband, Jack, and is survived by her daughters, Mary and Anne, and son Seán, daughter-in-law, Honor and sons in-law, Robbie and Terry, grandchildren, Ava, Jack, Aifric, Conor and Ross; great-granddaughter, Emily; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
She was also predeceased by her parents, Michael and Catherine (Cassie) Sweeney, and her siblings, John, Maurice, Terry, Michael, Crissie and Gretta.
– Tommy Curran