Fourteen years ago, Ballyshannon-man John Monaghan told his wife Mary he was going on a three month back packing holiday from their home in South Africa. That was the last time she saw him, until last weekend when she bumped into him walking down the street in his home town.
Mary's parents are from Ballinrobe in Mayo and she met John at an Irish Club in Cricklewood in London. They married in 1993 and emigrated to South Africa where they lived for eight years until John walked out of their family home at the age of 29.
After Mary had resigned herself to the fact that her husband was gone from her life for good she settled down to write a book about her experience. Last weekend she was in Ballyshannon dropping off copies of her book, entitled 'Remember Me?', to a book shop in the town when she saw her husband walking toward her.
In an interview with the Irish Independent this week, Mary stated: "It was almost like seeing a ghost. I was expecting to meet John's aunt Elizabeth Coe from Belleek with whom I am in regular touch. But as I was walking towards her on the street, I saw this man getting out of another car and realised it was John. I couldn't believe it. "
She added: "I didn't say a lot initially, it was like a stunned silence , but his aunt was there and she said maybe we should have something to drink in the local hotel."
Commenting on last weekend's reunion, Mary said: "He said he meant to come back to me but things got easier where he was and he was stressed-out in Johannesburg. We were in a lot of debt."
"We talked for over two hours; it was weird. John told me he was ashamed of what he had done. He had been living in Australia, but his relationship with the woman he was living with is over."
Mary continued: "John told me he hasn't read the book yet, but intends to. He has heard quite a lot about it. He is in Donegal holidaying with his family before returning to Australia."
In conclusion Mary explained that they shook hands and agreed to stay in touch but she does not hold much hope for a long-term reunion stating that "too much water has passed under the bridge".
