Local Hero tells her story of a life less ordinary
Despite only being able to type using a single finger on a hand which frequently goes into spasm, Mary Kinsella has managed to type nearly 30,000 words for her upcoming memoir.
It is a formidable achievement for the woman who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy from a very young age. But then Mary is used to overcoming obstacles.
And writers’ block is certainly not one of them.
For the last year, Craughwell writer Anne Marie Kennedy has been working with Mary once a fortnight for two hours to help her with her writing, in a project funded by the Brothers of Charity.
Anne Marie – who nominated Mary for the Local Heroes Award – wells up when discussing some of the painful experiences that Mary has endured.
From age three to age eight, Mary spent most of her time in Merlin Park hospital, where she underwent fifteen surgeries, various medical procedures and tortuous physical therapy.
Some therapies involved hanging weights off her limbs in a bid to straighten them so she could walk.
“She never did walk but had to suffer the most unbelievable pain. If you don’t come out of that resentful…Sad as they were at the time, she says those years have had a positive impact on her physical health. Despite using a wheelchair for most of her adult life Mary is fit, active and healthy. She has won several medals and awards for water sports and bocce.”
Mary has always loved to write.
One of her first toys was in fact a typewriter, gifted to her by her father’s sister.
She can recall vividly the joy and fun of belting the keyboard that had big black letters, no ribbon, no ink and no paper, just something that made noise and occupied her as a child.
She has been writing poetry since she was a teenager and has a collection of plays, short stories and children’s literature, some of which have been published and performed with assistance from Arts Disability Ireland. For the rest of Mary's story, see this week’s Connacht Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here, or download the app for Android or iPhone.
■ Do you have a Local Hero living in your midst? Each month we want to honour someone in the community who makes the world a better place for their presence. Just see the nomination form in the Connacht Tribune, make your choice and outline your reasons – and next month’s Local Hero could be on your own doorstep.