Where do you start writing about a person who had so much influence for good on a diverse range of people be it as a player, coach, manager, administrator and mentor.
As a player Mary was a “powerhouse” with what Roy Keane would describe as having a “great engine”. Her stamina, agility and fleet of foot coupled with a steely determination to win were second to none. Ciro Ciniglio, England Manager during the height of Mary’s playing career once said he would gladly have her on his England Team due to her attitude, no nonsense approach, plus her competitiveness. Even with her competitive edge there were never any questionable line calls, she played the game with fairness and great sportsmanship or is it sportswoman ship nowadays.
It must not be forgotten that Mary was training and playing Ladies Doubles with Sue Peard, Mary O’ Sullivan and Yvonne Kelly all of whom had won or reached All England finals or semi finals. Not a bad group to be training with!
Her partnership with Wendy Orr was sheer class by any standards and they were feared by many other players here in Ireland, English Intercounty and European events. In a time when Ulster players dominated the Irish Team Mary and Wendy were being selected.
But back to the start, Mary started playing badminton in a small club in Taghmon, Co Wexford and represented Munster at Interprovincial level.
Then Gay Dinan a young Bank Official who had been transferred to the local Bank of Ireland branch came into the hall and romance blossomed. They married in 1968 and moved to Coolock on the northside of Dublin.
Pembroke BC became her club of choice in the city and she became a first team member very quickly. She teamed up with another northsider Derek Stewart to become a formidable Mixed Doubles partnership both at club level and Leinster for the next decade or so.
Then on a very cold night in February 1975 Mary played her first International in the Whitehall Road now the Terenure Badminton Centre. It was to be the start of an illustrious badminton career of some 58 Irish caps. This career took Mary across Europe and even behind the infamous “Iron Curtain” to Leningrad USSR in 1977 to play in the Helvetia Cup. Ireland reached the finals but were beaten by the home team. Two years later Ireland had the same fate in Klagenfurt Austria being beaten by the USSR again. In Sandeforjd, Norway in 1981, Mary and the Irish Team won the coveted Helvetia Cup beating Norway in the final. No Irish Team had ever won European honours before.
In Whitehall Road in 1983 Ireland beat England for the first time after trying to do so since they first played in 1903. The tension, excitement and drama as Mary served at game point in the last match to clinch the win will live long in the memory. Even today I don’t know how she kept her nerve.
For the record Mary won an Irish Open Title, six All Ireland Badminton Titles, four Ladies Doubles and two Mixed Doubles Titles plus God knows how many Leinster, Provincial and County tournaments.
When KADCA BC was opened in 1977 on the northside of Dublin, Mary was a founder member and represented the club on the Leinster Branch Executive for many years and also became President. She always wore her green Leinster President’s blazer with huge pride.
When Mary’s playing days were over, she took up coaching and was exceptionally successful. On an Intercounty level she coached Wexford to four All Ireland Championships in a row. At International Level she coached Sonia McGinn to become the first Irish player to compete in the Olympics. They travelled across Central and South America to ensure Sonia had enough points to qualify for Sydney 2000. She helped the Leinster Schools Team win a Team Gold Medal in the English Schools Tournament in Nottingham an achievement never equalled to this day. For all this International success she always loved coaching kids, not that she could always remember their names! It was either “Young fella”, “Hey you” and of course “head the ball” as her booming voice bounced around the hall.
The badminton hall in Baldoyle would not have happened without Mary’s involvement. From an empty shell of a broken-down factory to a smart eight court hall took a huge commitment and dedication. In 1986 Mary took her plan for the hall to the legendary Frank Peard for approval. It was like going into the “Dragons Den” and he told her “it won’t work…you are mad…forget it”…those words drove her on and today badminton players are still enjoying the facility.
Mary also served with distinction as a Board Member of Badminton Ireland for a number of years.
Before Mary started playing competitive badminton not many players would have known she had already forged a hugely successful GAA Camogie career. She won two All Ireland winners medals starring for Wexford in 1968 and 1969 in an era which was dominated by a very strong Dublin team. In 2004 she was named in the GAA Camogie “Team of the Century” an amazing honour for any player to be recognised by your peers in this way, plus of course she was a brilliant golfer!
Off court Mary was the best of craic and enjoyed a party and a laugh. She was always in good spirits and had a good word to say about everyone. If you were in trouble either on or off court, you spoke to Mary and she would have a chat and offer some sound advice. She had a heart of gold.
The sympathies of all who knew Mary go out to her husband Gay, daughter Elizabeth, son in law Bernard, grandsons Mark and Paul, extended family and friends. She will be greatly missed by the entire badminton community and will always be remembered with love and affection as a true legend of the game of Badminton.
Rest in Peace Mary.