The untimely death took place on May 12th of proud Donegal woman Máire Sharkey.
Máire was born on the 12 July 1971 and was the youngest of 4 children to Danny and Máire Sharkey of Elaghbeg, Burnfoot. She was the only girl with 3 older brothers, Patrick, John and Donal.
Máire attended St Aengus National School in Bridgend and then Scoil Mhuire Secondary School in Buncrana.
She left Ireland at the age of 18 to attend Brunel University, Uxbridge outside London where she obtained a BSc degree in Psychology in 1994.
She joined the National Health Service in the UK after graduation and worked for 4 years in and around London working in Psychology services.
She then went to the University of Teeside in 1995 to undertake a 3 year Doctor of Clinical Psychology post graduate degree course. She was awarded her doctorate in 2001.
She re-joined the NHS in South Tyneside in 2001. This was the start of her life in South Shields in the North East of England where she remained for the rest of her life.
Máire enjoyed her life in South Shields. She loved the people and the community and found her little bit of Donegal in the North East of England. Máire achieved one of her career aspirations in 2009 becoming a Consultant Clinical Psychologist specialising in Psychology services to older people.
In 2018, she joined Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust again as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head of Psychology Services for older people in Gateshead.
Máire loved her job with both passion and compassion, dedicating her life to caring for others. She was gentle and kind with a soft soothing Irish accent.
Máire never lost her connection with Ireland. She generally returned to Donegal at least 4 times every year to visit her family. Máire loved her family and was loved by her family. She often travelled south to London for conferences and stayed with her brothers during these events.
Sadly, Máire lost her short battle with cancer at the young age of 48 on 12th May 2020.
The family are devastated at the loss of Máire at such a young age, but take great comfort knowing that she dedicated her life to helping others through her work.
Several of her colleagues and ex-colleagues wrote tributes to Máire and we would like to thank each and every one of them for their words.
One colleague wrote of Maire’s legacy to all of us, in Maire’s own words….. “We should never ever stop trying.”
Today our hearts feel heavy and sad at the loss of Dr Máire Sharkey, the person and the professional however our hearts are also filled with pride that she was our daughter, sister, aunt, friend and colleague.
Finally, Máire often described herself as just a “little lass from Donegal” but she was much more than that – she was simply the best of us.
Rest in peace Máire.
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