Her last interview on the BBC was in 2019 when she recounted her life of writing to Owen McFadden in Radio Ulster’s ‘Time Of Our Lives’ programme which was broadcast in January of that year. Many readers of a certain age may remember listening to ‘One potato, Two Potato’ where Maureen’s stories were read to younger primary school children by Michael and Libby. Her leaflet on Finn MacCool proved a winner with the younger audience.Īlthough writing was her first love, Maureen soon got into broadcasting and wrote children’s stories for the BBC for over 21 years. She followed this up with an edited ‘Poetry of the Glens’ and a children’s book, ‘Three Tales of Moyle’, telling the stories of Taise, Princess of Rathlin, Deirdre of the Sorrows and The Children of Lir. In 1979 she published ‘Inch Abbey and Parish’ to celebrate the 370th anniversary of the founding of the parish of Inch, the 250th anniversary of the building of the present church and the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Cistercian Abbey of Inch.īy 1974 Maureen had already written her most famous book, ‘The Nine Glens’, a personal look at the history, folklore and poetry of the Nine Glens of Antrim. She and her son, Patrick, also co-wrote a short historical guide to Downpatrick and Lecale which was published in 1980.
This was followed by ‘Patrick, Brigid and Colmcille”, a book for children, the story of the three saints supposedly buried together in Downpatrick.Īs the rhyme goes “In Down three saints one grave do fill: Brigid, Patrick and Colmcille.” This scholarly book is still in print 50 years later in a revised form. Her first local book, ‘Saint Patrick and his associations with Saul and Downpatrick’, was published in 1972. Her column, ‘Diary of a Parson’s Wife’, in the Church of Ireland Gazette was a much loved must read aspect of this weekly newspaper in the 1960s. Maureen was already well known for her writing, which was her passion. The couple immersed themselves in the history and folklore of this beautiful part of Co Down. Thus began a long and happy association with Lecale and the surrounding area. MRS Maureen Donnelly, who has died aged 90, arrived in the Downpatrick area in 1964 when her husband, the Rev Jim Donnelly, was appointed rector of the joint parishes of Inch and Saul.
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