Paddy Leneghan, a native of Cloughan, Co Roscommon, left school at 14, and went to Belfast, staying with his aunt, who operated a hairdressing salon on the Crumlin Road. He took a job as a barman, and then became was a wine and spirits salesman. Finally, he took over a pub at Leeson Street on the Falls Road in 1958.

In the meantime, he had met and fallen in love with one of his aunt’s employees, Claire McManus. She was a native of Dromara, Co Down, but the family moved to Maghera, and then to Belfast. They got married, and the eldest child, Mary was born in 1951. She was followed by Norah, Damien, John, Catherine, Patrick, Claire, Phelim and Clement.

She first encountered Martin McAleese while at St Dominic’s, during a debate with pupils from his school, St Mary’s C.B.S. on the Falls Road. But they did not form a relationship until both were at Queen’s University, where Mary was studying law. One of the lecturers was David Trimble.

The two students were ardent Gaelic football supporters, with Martin winning a Sigerson Cup medal with Queen’s, and captain of the Antrim minor squad. On a famous occasion, when her boyfriend was fouled, Mary was angry that the culprit was not being punished. She rushed on to the field, brandishing an umbrella at the referee. Supporters nominated her a “Man of the Match!”

On December 8, 1972, gunmen sprayed the Leneghan home with over 30 bullets, while the parents and eight children were attending Mass at Clonard Monastery for the Holy Day. The bullets lodged in the walls and furniture, including the mattresses. Paddy said that, “as far as the gunmen were concerned, we were all inside. We were very lucky, as some of the family could have been killed.” Shortly afterwards, they moved to Rostrevor.

Mary Leneghan graduated with an Honours degree in 1974, and was called to the Bar. However, Martin decided to embark on an accountancy career, and moved to Dublin, sharing a flat with Rugby International, Moss Keane.

Into the picture stepped former Civil Rights leader, Rory McShane, son of a building contractor from Meigh. A founder member of Peoples Democracy, along with Bernadette Devlin, Eamonn McCann and Michael Farrell, he had been chairman at the Civil Rights meeting in Derry on Bloody Sunday. And he had helped to mastermind the massive March in Newry, a week later. However, he failed to win a seat in the 1973 elections to the Assembly.

Mary and Rory got engaged, and a date was set for the wedding. But fate stepped in, for the 24-year-old lady barrister was offered the prestigious post as Reid Professor of Criminal Law at Trinity College, Dublin, a position previously held by Mary Robinson, later President of Ireland. Once again, the distance of 100 miles had raised a barrier to romance, especially since Rory McShane now had a flourishing legal practice in Newry.

A year later, Martin McAleese was back in the North, having switched to dentistry, opening a practice at Bessbrook and Crossmaglen. And Mary had taken the post as Director at the Institute of Legal Studies at Queen’s University. In 1976, they were married in the Star of the Sea Church at Rostrevor, with Mary’s best friend, Dr Eibhlis Farrell, playing the violin, while her sister, Siubhan O Dubhain presided at the organ.

Two good friends of Mary and Martin, who had been invited to the wedding, Tony and Myles O’Reilly, failed to turn up. When the newly-weds switched on the TV news in a Dublin hotel that evening, they learned that the two brothers had been shot dead in a gun and bomb attack on their restaurant outside Lisburn. It was a tragic start to their honeymoon. And they have never been able to celebrate their wedding anniversary!

For a time, Martin and Mary lived in Belfast, then at Drogheda, before finally settling in Rostrevor, 16 years ago. The first-born, Emma and her sister, Sara Mai attended the local Convent of Mercy girls’ school, while Justin, a twin of Sara Mai, went to St Mary’s boys school. All three were later pupils of St Louis Grammar School at Kilkeel.

The family would attend 10.30 am Mass on Sundays, where Mary enjoyed listening to the Cor na n-Og choir. Then they would stroll through Kilbroney Park, en route to picnics at the Cloughmore Stone. And this is still the routine on visits home, only this time with security personnel!

Both Martin and Mary have been keen Down supporters. Former county team manager, Peter McGrath recalled how, in 1991, when the Mournemen returned home with the Sam Maguire Cup, Professor Mary McAleese brought her children to his home to view the trophy. She stayed for half-an-hour, enjoying the craic. And in 1996, while training for the Ulster semi-final, he took the squad up the Fairy Glen for a run. When they passed Mary McAleese, she was able to greet each player by name. A joyous occasion came in 1998, when Rostrevor won the County Senior Championship for the second time. President McAleese had much pleasure in making the presentation to the St Bronagh’s captain.

Martin’s father, Charlie McAleese lived with the family in Belfast, and moved to Rostrevor. When they took up residence in Aras an Uachtarainn, he lived there until his death. Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam was a regular visitor to the Aras, where the President taught her how to knit. Mo and Charlie McAleese would sit on the steps of the Aras, sipping pints of Guinness.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Leneghan family have been making their mark. Ruth became a nurse, living in Dublin; Damien is a teacher in Skerries; John is a hair-dresser, formerly at Scissors in Newry, later at Rostrevor; Catherine is now Mrs White; Patrick is a sales executive in Warrenpoint; Claire, Mrs Brendan Connolly, is a nurse at Daisyhill Hospital; Phelim is a dentist at Omeath; while Clement is a film producer in London.

Mary McAleese came to public attention in the Republic as a current affairs journalist with RTE. Later, she had a high profile, representing the Catholic Hierarchy at the New Ireland Forum. Then, in 1994, with the breakdown of the IRA ceasefire, she was invited by Fr Alex Reid to join the Redemptorist Peace Mission, along with Jim Fitzpatrick, managing editor of the `Irish News,’ in an effort to revive the IRA cessation of violence.

This would later be misused in an attempt to discredit Mary during the presidential election. But the strategy backfired, as she achieved the highest-ever percentage of votes, beating the record set by the legendary Eamon De Valera. And she has confirmed the confidence placed in this very intelligent, articulate, inspiring but unassuming President of Ireland!

< Previous Page