Dr Mary O'Donnell, who died after a short illness on July 24th, was a native of Co Kerry. Two of her three brothers, Dr Maurice O'Donnell and Dr Tom O'Donnell, have predeceased her. Her early medical career was in England. She spent three years working at the Carshalton Clinic in Queen Mary's Hospital, where internationally recognised pioneering work was being done in cerebral palsy.
When Dr Robert Collis founded the National Association for Cerebral Palsy, Ireland, in 1948, he persuaded her to return to work with him in Dublin. She became the medical director of the new association, which today has its headquarters at Sandymount. Together with Dr Collis, she pioneered the treatment for cerebral palsy in this country. In a groundbreaking article in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, published by the British Medical Association in 1951, they outlined the problem from the point of view of a paediatrician in Dublin, where provision for the treatment of cerebral palsy had not yet been made.
The new clinic had several bases before it settled at St Brendan's in Sandymount. It was inundated with early referrals as parents desperately sought help for their afflicted children. In 1951 Dr O'Donnell formed the first Parents' Association and was instrumental in organising a large band of volunteers who assisted in transporting the children to and from the clinic, as well as fundraising. As parents came to demand a service, a residential clinic was established in Killiney, Co Dublin, and subsequently at Marino School and Clinic in Bray, Co Wicklow. Dr O'Donnell had responsibility for Marino and began to visit Limerick, where a clinic was being set up at St Gabriel's. She also worked at the Children's Hospital in Harcourt Street.
Though operating in the male-dominated medical consultant world, Dr O'Donnell was a gentle, diffident woman, who rarely raised her voice. But she showed her mettle when summoned to Archbishop's House in Drumcondra, to explain why Archbishop McQuaid should allow her to become patron of the association's second school in Bray. After a stern interview, she convinced the church authorities that she was indeed worthy of such a role. Dr O'Donnell had a keen understanding and respect for education, realising how vital it was for the whole development of children with a physical disability.
Dr O'Donnell took a keen personal interest in each of those who attended her. This was exemplified in her relationship with her most famous "old boy", Christy Brown. In 1957, shortly after he had left the clinic, Dr O'Donnell introduced him to the newly-organised Disabled Artists' Association. This led to his becoming a painter and earning a monthly income for the rest of his life. He thanked her by dedicating one of his plays, The Guiding Light to her. Last December, she spoke of the early days of the clinic, at a launch of a biography of Christy Brown. She was quite amused to find herself included in the book's title as one of Christy Brown's Women.
She retired as medical director in 1987 and did sessional work at St Mary's Hospital, Baldoyle, for some years. She was appointed a director of Cerebral Palsy Ireland and remained active in that role, attending her last meeting in June of this year.