Remembering Mary Banotti

Sir, – The board, staff and volunteers of Holocaust Education Ireland are greatly saddened at the death of Mary Banotti, founding trustee and long-time supporter of our organisation.

In 2002, when a group came together to form an ad hoc committee to commemorate Ireland’s first Holocaust Memorial Day, Mary’s advice was invaluable. The first thing she did was make out a personal cheque which she handed over with the words, “You have to do this, do not waver in your resolve.” She then became one of the original founding trustees of Holocaust Education Ireland in 2005. She served on the board for 12 years and attended every Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration and participated in many until she became too frail just a couple of years ago. She made herself available to speak at myriad events – in schools, at launches of the Crocus Project and at our exhibitions, even volunteering to act as a guide for the Anne Frank exhibition in 2006 and for the Polish exhibition in 2015.

She attended several of our educational courses and she came on our study visits to Kraków, Auschwitz and Berlin.

She never lost interest in our work right up to the end and always wanted to know what was going on.

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Mary was steadfast in her interest and support for Holocaust education and remembrance in Ireland. We have lost a true friend. – Yours, etc,

Prof THOMAS O’DOWD,

Chairperson,

Holocaust Education Ireland,

Dublin 2.