Galway Bay Sailing Club (GSBC) has paid tribute to Máire Swan, one of its early members, who has died at the age of 95.
Along with her husband Larry Swan, she was a guiding light in the foundation of GBSC, according to Pierce Purcell.
Her son Mike Swan is the RNLI Galway Lifeboat station’s operations manager.
When the sailing club moved to Rinville near Oranmore, the Swans were supportive of efforts to secure the site and drive the early building project.
“At every regatta and function, Maire was involved helping out with catering and results,” Purcell says.
He recalls several Sundays mid-season where up to 20 members sat down in what was then the new club room to roast beef lunches which had been cooked by Máire and Larry Swan.
“Their experience, together with sport which included sailing in Wexford, sea angling, freshwater fishing on the Corrib, rugby and hockey interests contributed hugely with the club,”he says.
A well-known fashion model under her name of Máíre McDonagh, she had extensive business connections and ran fashion events at early boat shows, he recalls.
“Later when the clubhouse got up and running, Maire helped out with lifeboat fundraising flag days and annual golf competitions. She was proud of young Michaels' involvement becoming RNLI operations manager at the Port of Galway,”he says.
“The Swan homes, both in Bushypark and Newcastle, were always open and welcoming around their Aga stove where committee members would drop in to discuss various schemes or sailing plans that brought so many people in the club together,” Purcell says, recalling “magic days and memories”.
Máire Swan is pre-deceased by her husband Larry (1995), and is survived by her son Michael and daughters Finola McGovern (New York) and Lara Stephens (Galway) , daughter-in-law Mary, sons-in-law Roger and Alan and her grandchildren Ailish, Leah, Larry, Caitriona, Tom, Dara and Kate.
Her funeral Mass took place at St James’s Church, Bushypark, Galway at 12 noon, Saturday January 18th.
