In Memoriam: Mairead Kavanagh MIACP [TBC]

Mairead Kavanagh passed away on October 21st 2021.

In Memoriam

Mairead Kavanagh departed this life on Thursday 21st October 2021 at the age of 65. She was taken from us way too soon.

As her older cousin, I first knew Mairead as a young girl growing up in a family of boys on Dodder Park Road. She developed into an extraordinarily caring, kind, and compassionate woman. Her compassion was the active kind – caring for her family through all the ups and downs visited on them by life, nursing the sick for 20 years and then being a very special therapist, teacher and supervisor for twenty-two years.

She was the quintessential extravert, always ready for a chat, full of fun (a ‘real yapper’ was how one of her colleagues in YAP affectionately described her). At her funeral Mass, her daughter Niamh gave us an inspired insight into the Mairead that her family knew:
“She only saw the good in people. She believed that beauty was to be found in everyone and everything. The words ‘hate’ and ‘ugly’ were banned in the Kavanagh household. She welcomed everyone to her home – no appointments were necessary. She loved a good debate, and never lost one!”

Her brothers described her as having a literal and emotional intelligence, a great wit and a stubbornness that stood to her in facing life’s vicissitudes.

It was not possible to meet Mairead and not warm to her. She was infectious, direct, irreverent and as kind a person as you could ever meet. The last time I met her was before Covid when she had already lost her independence to Parkinson’s disease, and her ability to communicate was diminishing. This was a very cruel blow to someone who was so articulate and relational. Then the Covid restrictions on visitors, when she was in Lisheen nursing home, meant that she was deprived of the joy of being surrounded by her beloved family.

May she rest now in peace in the company of Matt, the love of her life.

Gearoid Manning

Mairead Kavanagh was my friend, my mentor, and my supervisor for many years. I met Mairead on the first day of my psychotherapy training in the Creative Counselling Centre Dublin in 1990. Looking at the 15 other students on that day, who all seemed so knowledgeable and experienced as they practiced their " breath work" I was overwhelmed and out of my comfort zone. Mairead picked up on my anxiousness and whispered "we all still only breathe in and out". We both laughed. She offered me a sweet and every week from then on she brought me sweets. We were buddies from then on.

To say that Mairead was the best therapist and supervisor I have ever worked with is no exaggeration on my part. She challenged me firmly but kindly. She propped me up when I needed propping and pulled back when I needed to " figure it out" ( her words).
By nature she was the essence of kindness and groundedness, was always non-judgemental and had a quirky sense of humour.

She was indeed an expert in her trade. She loved working in Ballymun YAP and first-hand ( when I facilitated workshops) I witnessed the respect and love her staff had for her. It was her "home away from home."
“Everyone deserves a second and a third and a.....chance ."
And “there is no skill more important than kindness."
These were her two mottos.

Mairead was an impressive trainer. We both undertook to offer sand therapy training courses in Limerick and each participant hugely benefited from her knowledge, teaching skills and encouragement.

As her friend, I was lucky to see Mairead in her other roles. She was so proud of her children, Aengus, Frances, Niamh and Caitriona and adored her grandchildren. She had a lifelong love affair with Matt until his death. There was so much joy and life in the Kavanagh house. We drank tea, wine, had fashion parades, and shellac nails painted over the years until illness took hold.

To sum up Mairead as a therapist and a woman is difficult. But I will choose one word... Inspirational.

Slan Mairead mo chara dilis.
Mile mile buiochas duit as ucht a thug tu dom.

Margaret Collins Smyth

News

Quick Downloads

This website uses strictly necessary session cookies only. Session cookies are requred to ensure members can access the members area and associated functions reliably. Session cookies expire automatically upon exit.