Shannon College of Hotel Management lost a wonderful friend yesterday when Mary Bowe (Class of 1958) passed away.
Mary was in one of the first classes to attend SCHM and herself and her beloved late husband Ray made a large contribution to Irish hospitality.
According to the Irish Independent “The Bowes’ first hospitality project was building and opening Esker Lodge in Curracloe in the early 1970’s as a family home and guest house, later adding a restaurant which catered for holiday visitors to the seaside area and earned Mary a reputation for her cooking ability.
But Mary who was a contemporary of Myrtle Allen of Ballymaloe, had the grand ambition of opening a country hotel and when Marlfield House with its 36 acres of gardens came on the market in 1977, it was the perfect setting as the backdrop to her dream.”
Mary was a driving force behind the fundraising and development of the College Building that opened in 2000. She personally contacted friends and classmates to donate and was a member of the College Trust for many years afterwards.
Mary was Class Patron to the Class of 2000 and it was very fitting that the graduation celebrations of her class took place in the new college building that she had worked so hard to get built.
So many alumni have worked in Marlfield House over the years and credit Mary with instilling such high standards in everything they did.
We all remember Mary as such a glamourous lady who was interested in all of our the students and had a word for everyone. She always had a twinkle in her eye and was great company at college events and we will miss her greatly.
We send our sincere sympathies to Mary’s daughters Laura and Margaret, her family, friends, classmates and all who mourn her.
You can view funeral details and post your condolences on >> RIP.ie
May Mary rest in peace.
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