The helicopter which took Margaret ‘Mag’ Mitchell to Dublin on Tuesday afternoon left the sod of The Crageens with cheers and tears and waves and wishes.
The popular, local woman was heading to the Mater Hospital for a heart transplant after getting the all important call just a short time before. Mag had her operation yesterday, Wednesday and the good news is that she’s doing fine.
Lift-Off
Lift-off was at a few seconds after 4-15pm and a huge crowd of locals gathered around the perimeter of the famed rugby field. They had been alerted to the site by the hovering Irish Air Corps craft.
As the chopper lifted, the still gathering crowd shouted and waved its wishes after word of its mission got out. Tears of hope and joy for its main occupant flowed freely and unashamedly asthe big bird turned into the freshening south westerly breeze and went up, up and away.
A member of one of the oldest Castleisland families, Mag is hugely popular with her neighbours and friends.
Impromptu Mid-Wife
If you’re into the kind of karma that supposedly circles around people who do good for others – then Mag Mitchell ideally fits the bill.
In June of 2007 Mag made the local news when she was thrown into the role of impromptu mid-wife to a ‘neighbour’s child’ – with no time for anything but immediate action. Noreen (Walmsley) Ferris had gone into labour at her parents house a few doors away. Noreen’s mom Liz ran for Mag Mitchell. Assuredly, calmly and with loving care, little Baby Aoibhín Máidhréad came into the world. Needless to say the prayers and wishes of the town are going to Mag on her recovery. She has a feisty, fighting spirit on her side – and, she’s a Mitchell.
