MARY MCPARTLAN, the musician, promoter, musical director, theatre-maker, academic, and broadcaster, rightly described by Uachtarán na hÉireann, Michael D Higgins, as "one of the greatest traditional singers of her generation", died this week following a battle with cancer.
Uachtarán Higgins led tributes to the Leitrim born, Galway based, folk singer, who won acclaim for both her own singing, and for her peerless work across the arts in Ireland. She was 65. "She leaves a legacy of achievement for the arts that will endure," said the President.
Leading traditional fiddle player Frankie Gavin echoed these words, telling the Galway Advertiser: "Mary was a dear friend of mine, who achieved extraordinary things for the arts in NUIG, and around the world. Wherever she went she brought the spirit of Ireland with her through songs. There was a glowing warm smile and always a wonderful sense of excitement in her beautiful eyes."
Her close friend, the playwright and poet Vincent Woods, said: "She was without question one of the great singers – anywhere, anytime. A pure voice. A true voice. A miraculous voice. Her three albums – The Holland Handkerchief, Petticoat Loose, and Mountain to Mountain - capture something of her power and originality, but it was in live performance that Mary shone. To be beside her and to hear, see, witness, feel that singing was the best of life."
The road to The Holland Handkerchief
Born in the County Leitrim village of Drumkeerin, Mary was introduced to traditional and folk songs as a child by her County Tyrone born mother. As an adult, she would work in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, and became involved with the trade union movement. Later she would work as director of the Simon Community.
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She always retained a passion for singing, and in the 1970s had formed a folk duo, Calypso. After she moved to Galway, the city that would become her home, she formed a singers' club, An Riabhóg. She would also tour with Seán Tyrrell and Seán Keane in a Druid production of The Midnight Court, but for many years, Mary's involvement with the arts was backstage.
'I always liked talking to her because you could bounce ideas off her and she would always think outside the box' - Mick Crehan
She conceived what is now the Gradam Ceoil TG4 Awards; produced two seasons of the TG4 series Flosc; and, with writer Colin Irwin, produced the play, She Moved Through the Fair: The Legend of Margaret Barry. She was also a key figure in the Galway theatre company Skehana; Galway Youth Theatre; and Glór, the national Irish music centre in Ennis.
A significant moment came while working with theatre group Skehana, when she heard director John O'Hare encourage his actors to find "a deep sense of truth and honesty within themselves". It would begin a process that would result in Mary, at the age of 50, releasing her debut album, The Holland Handkerchief, in 2004. It went on to be shortlisted for the Meteor Awards and won MOJO magazine's Folk Album of the Year award.
For Mick Crehan of The Crane Bar and the Galway Sessions festival, the Gradam Ceoil TG4 Award was one of the most important achievements and legacies of Mary's life.
"Mary, her husband, and her brother, would often come to The Crane," Mick told the Advertiser. "She loved the atmosphere and the sessions, and even after a hard day's work, and she worked hard, she could always be relied on to share a song or two. Mary was here in Galway a long time, longer than me, but we both shared a view about the excellence of the musicians of Galway, and their contribution, not only to the cultural life, but to the economy and tourism, and that there was a need to recognise that. Mary's contribution was the TG4 Awards."
On a personal level, Mick will always appreciate Mary's encouragement and advice. "She was always very engaging," he says. "She would share ideas, and I always liked talking to her because you could bounce ideas off her and she would always think outside the box. I'll miss that."
'A force for good in life'
Two more albums would follow, with 2008's Petticoat Loose, which saw her collaborate with playwright and poet, Vincent Woods, and which The Irish Times called "a bristling, blistering successor to her solo debut...a creative surge in full flow"; and 2016's Mountain To Mountain, which earned a four star review from MOJO.
Vincent, a friend of Mary's for 47 years, described her as "fierce, courageous, inspiring. The best of company. With the most remarkable mix of strength and tenderness I have ever known in any one person...a part of the cultural and musical landscape of this country. She helped reshape that landscape. She was a force for good in life."
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Apart from music, Mary was also committed to the arts more widely, and to academia. She was the creative director of NUI Galway’s Arts in Action programme. A Fulbright scholar, her research on the music of the Appalachian singer Jean Ritchie led to the establishment of an annual MA scholarship at NUIG for students from Berea College in Kentucky. She also founded the NUIG Medical Orchestra.
"Acutely aware of the history of Irish music, song, dance and culture," said Uachtarán Higgins, "Mary brought the truth of emotion and empathy to her singing. Her invocation of place, history and feeling was unique."
'Her huge spirit will help carry us all as we go on, as she wants us to do – in hope, determined hope, of making the world a little better, as she has done' - Vincent Woods
Frankie Gavin also highlighted Mary's positive impact on arts and culture in Ireland, and how this always reflected her very best qualities as a person. "Mary was always injecting a new sense of hope, respect, and prosperity to the culture of Ireland," he said. "Her intentions were always noble ones, and with her heart on her sleeve, she endeavoured to brighten all our horizons through the Arts and indeed, with her very presence."
'Causes close to a great heart'
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In recent years, Mary had endured personal tragedy, not only her cancer diagnosis, but also the loss of her brother and mother. "I often admired how brave she was, indomitable," said Uachtarán Higgins, "transcending loss and adversity with a nobility of heart and a powerful reach of humanity that was always there in her singing and in her life."
Vincent Woods also paid tribute to Mary's strong concern for human rights and the welfare of those on the margins. He sees that as also being part of her legacy, and as an example to follow and continue.
"Mary had a strong personal faith, a spiritual belief that helped carry her in the past difficult few years," he said. "Her huge spirit will help carry us all as we go on, as she wants us to do – in hope, determined hope, of making the world a little better, as she has done. After this quake in all our lives, this viral shock, maybe we can focus – or refocus - on basic human rights and human needs – homes and shelter for the homeless, space and place in the world for refugees and those displaced by war and inequality and climate change, justice for the millions without it, a decent future, a living wage and opportunity for our young people; respect and support for musicians and singers and artists. Causes close to Mary’s great heart – and she wouldn’t want us to slack."
Gratitude is due to Ollie Jennings for his help with his article.
