Thousands of miles from the Atlantic shores of Silverstrand, where she tragically lost her life last November, the memory of Máire Ní Fhátharta is now making a powerful impact in a small rural school in Malawi.
Thanks to a generous €5,000 donation from her partner Dan King, Máire’s name — and her spirit as a passionate educator — now lives on in a classroom at Matandani Primary School.
The initiative was sparked through a connection made by Mia Halpin of Medtronic, a longtime supporter of Project Malawi, who introduced Dan to the group earlier this year.
With Máire’s birthday approaching, Dan was looking for a way to honour her life and legacy. His decision to fund much-needed resources for the school was both timely and deeply meaningful.
Two new desks have now been installed in the school, one of which bears Máire’s own handwritten signature — a simple but moving symbol of her enduring presence.
For the three young girls now sitting at that desk, it’s more than just a place to learn. In a culture where girls often stay home to care for family or marry young, access to education can change the course of a life. As one volunteer put it, “You’d have to be there to understand just how special it is to see those three bright, smiling faces at Máire’s desk. It’s emotional. It’s powerful.”
This project is just one of many initiatives being carried out by Project Malawi, the grassroots charity founded ten years ago by Laois teacher Andy Monaghan. The group is especially active in Clarinbridge, Co. Galway, where retired teacher Mary Booth has become a driving force in its success.
Over the past four years alone, Mary’s now-famous Malachy and Mary’s Tea Party has raised more than €70,000 for projects in Malawi — from building classrooms and training teachers to improving healthcare access and delivering vital supplies.
This summer, Mary and her “Dream Team” of local volunteers are preparing to send another shipping container to Malawi. It’s packed with schoolbags, medical equipment, teacher training materials, and even boxes of donated reading glasses — all bound for communities where such items are precious and rare.
“We’re calling for 200 schoolbags and pencil cases,” said Mary. “The children have next to nothing, and yet they’re so eager to learn.”
The group works closely with partners like DHL, whose pilots help transport up to 300kg of donated goods free of charge. It’s a community-driven mission, built on empathy, hard work, and a shared belief in education as a pathway out of poverty.
Back in Matandani, Máire’s desk stands as a quiet but powerful tribute. It reminds us that a life lived with compassion and purpose can continue to inspire — even in the most unexpected corners of the world.
As Mary Booth said, “Máire still has some work to do — and thanks to Dan, and everyone who supports this project, her work is far from over.”
