Forever Our Mary: A Song Written from a Lifetime of Memories

When Mary's family shared their memories with us, one thing became clear very quickly: she was the kind of person who made everyone feel at home.

She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was proud of her Irish roots, devoted to her family, and known for her warmth, humour and generosity. But more than anything, she was a constant presence in the lives of the people who loved her. This song was written to celebrate that.

Rather than focusing only on loss, Forever Our Mary tells the story of a life well lived. It begins in Ballykelly, Ireland, where Mary grew up alongside her siblings Michael, Bridget, Patrick and Peggy, before meeting her beloved husband John and eventually building a life and family in Australia.

As we worked through the family's memories, it wasn't the big milestones that stood out most. It was the little details. The way Mary laughed so hard she could barely finish a story. The Thursday night trips to Erina Fair. The fruit samples that somehow always found their way into the shopping trolley. The Daniel O'Donnell concerts she never wanted to miss. The Sunday roasts, hot scones with jam and cream, and the way nobody ever left her home hungry. Those details became the heart of the song because they're the moments that make a person unforgettable.

One lyric that perfectly captures the role Mary played in her family is:

"She was the warmth inside the walls, the Sunday roast, the crowded halls."

The family described Mary as the person who brought everyone together. The one who made a house feel like home. Those lines became a way of expressing that feeling without needing to explain it.

The song also makes space for the stories that still make the family smile, including the famous garage wall incident in Ireland and the many memories that continue to bring laughter even now.

At the same time, it acknowledges the quieter parts of Mary's story. Her strength through hardship, the loss of her daughter Anne-Marie, and the love she continued to give despite carrying her own heartbreak.

As the song reaches its final moments, the focus shifts from memories to legacy. Mary leaves behind four children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, all carrying pieces of her with them.

That idea sits at the centre of the song. Not that Mary is gone. But that her love remains. In family traditions. In Irish songs. In flowers blooming by the door. In stories shared around the table. In the people she helped shape.

The song closes with a simple line that felt like the perfect way to honour every chapter of her life:

"Forever our Mary. Our Granny. Our May."

Because while she meant something different to everyone who knew her, she was deeply loved by all of them.