Dr Mary Burns By Tim O’Sullivan

Mary Burns, née O’Sullivan, was a GP who contributed greatly to community life in North Antrim after she moved there in 1992, following her marriage to Gerry Burns from Armoy.

Mary came from Rathmullan on the shores of Lough Swilly in Co Donegal. During her studies in the RCSI medical school in Dublin, she encountered the Focolare movement and its spirituality of unity strongly shaped her life and outreach to others. Following hospital work in Ireland, she spent two deeply enriching years in the 1980s working in a maternity hospital run by the Focolare in Cameroon in West Africa, before joining her father Seán in general practice in Donegal.

Mary sought to live out her Christian convictions in practical day-to-day action. Her life in Armoy centred around her family commitments as a wife and mother of four children, her caring role with her own mother, her GP professional activity and her extensive community involvements. Her work as a GP brought her to Ballymoney and later Ballycastle, where patients and colleagues deeply appreciated her empathy and gentle sense of humour.

Her community involvements included a strong commitment to cross-community cooperation. In 1994, she joined with John Ward, Lyle McMullan, her husband and others in setting up the Armoy Community Association, which built the Tilly Molloy community centre in 2000 and developed a wide range of services for the local community. She also served as Chairperson of the Board of Governors of Cross and Passion School, Ballycastle, which her own children attended, and had a strong belief in young people as the future of the community.

Mary’s life changed fundamentally in 2010 when she was diagnosed with cancer. During her year-long illness, her acceptance of her own suffering and warm outreach to her many visitors were a great witness to all who met her. She also received wonderful care and support from the local health services and from her former colleagues.

The respect in which she was held in the local community was remarkably reflected in the huge numbers who came to her wake and funeral last June in Armoy. The expressions of community goodwill at this time were of real comfort to her family and helped them to look forward with courage and hope. Mary is survived by her husband Gerry and children Ríonach, Thomas, Conleth and Timothy.