BYCATHERINE COOK
THE new National President of St Vincent de Paul is a woman who has strong ties with Donegal.
Originally form Wexford, Mairead Bushnell was elected as the National President of the country's biggest charitable organisation in recent months.
Speaking to the Donegal News this week, Mrs Bushnell explained her strong connection with the county which dates back over thirty years.
"My two sisters are married to Dungloe-men. One is married to Dr Declan Bonner and they live in Dungloe, and the other is married to Paul Sweeney and although they live in Dublin now they have a holiday home in Dungloe."
Mrs Bushnell continued: "Since the seventies, me and my children have been coming to Donegal every summer. I just fell in love with the place."
In fact Mairead's heart was so much in Donegal that in the mid-nineties she decided to build a house in Sheskinarone on the outskirts of Dungloe.
"I spent so much time in Donegal that eventually I decided to build a small house outside Dungloe. Now I spend every summer, Easter and Christmas in the county."
Now living in Cork, Mrs Bushnell is long-time community activist and woman of quiet determination which led her to assume leadership of Ireland's largest voluntary organisation of social concern and action.
She joined SVP in 1986 serving families and the elderly in one of Cork's most disadvantaged areas.
Her contribution to the ongoing training and upskilling of SVP members was recognised in 1998 with her appointment to SVP's National Training Team. Elected Cork Regional President in 2003, she was also appointed chair of SVP's National Trainers Working Group and a member of the Society's first 3 Year Plan team. As National President, Mairead aims to focus on the reality that poverty has an ever-changing face.
With a busy schedule in front of her, Mairead is looking forward to a month-long break in Donegal at the end of this month. She commented: "It takes me seven hours to drive from Cork, but at the end of the day, it's well worth it just to spend time in Donegal."
