Civic reception proposed for Carndonagh's community hero Mary Doherty
A proposal has been made to host a civic reception in Inishowen for Mary Doherty (Saddler).
The community advocate and founding member of the only Inishowen-based domestic violence support service, Lifeline Inishowen, Mary was also recently named as tan AXA Community Hero.
Speaking at the recent Inishowen Municipal District meeting, Councillor Martin McDermott said he felt that Mary very much deserved a civic reception for the huge ‘amount of that she has done over the last 35 years’.
"A lot of that work nobody has ever seen or even knew it was going on. She has won a national award and retired now from Lifeline and I think she deserves a civic reception from the council.”
Colr McDermott proposed the civic reception and received the full support of fellow councillors.
Mary was recently awarded the title of AXA Community Hero in the Women’s Safety and Wellbeing category, thanks to her work at Lifeline Inishowen over the past 30 years.
Lifeline supports people affected by domestic abuse through services including a helpline, a drop-in service, advocacy, court accompaniment, professional counselling and campaigning. It helped 184 adults and 61 children across Inishowen in 2024.
Much of Lifeline Inishowen’s achievements would not be possible without Mary Doherty’s unwavering commitment, energy and determination.
Mary says she was thrilled with the award, and the €20,000 prize fund would be going to Lifeline Inishowen: “I’m very humbled, I’m accepting this award on behalf of all the great volunteers who have worked with me over the years, without whom the service would never have survived. These funds mean so much, Lifeline Inishowen will be able to put it to use for example in their awareness programme in schools, which is such an important part of what they do.”