My godmother died today in her 91st year.
As a godmother she was a complete failure.
As a human being she was a complete success.
Mai Medlar tended towards the slightly dressier end of the family. She always presented well.
She was born on Usher's Island within three doors of Joyce's Dead. Her father ran an undertaking business in James's St. and she was a true child of the Liberties.
She married Harry Ledwidge, from James's Terrace, Dolphin's Barn, in 1954, and they emigrated to Penge, London, England. Harry was a great guy. Mai worked in a factory and was a barmaid in the area. They had no children. Harry died in 1966 and Mai returned to Dublin.
In her later years she lived in Iveagh Trust, in Patrick St., and when she was not able to manage there she went to the Molyneaux Home, in Leeson Park, where she was well looked after.
Mai took people at face value. By that I don't mean how they projected themselves, but what they were. She had an instinct for people. She saw right through them and related to those who were genuine.
She was always young at heart and open to change. She lectured me on Fat Frogs when I hadn't a clue what she was talking about.
I had the honour to give a talk on her father, PJ Medlar, in the Dublin City Library and Archive, last year (2010) which I dedicated to her and which she was thrilled to hear. The family were ordinary Dublin people. Not many of the ilk left.
May she rest in the peace she well deserves.