On a pleasant, sunny January day, Maureen Curtis Black was laid to rest beside her father in St Joseph's Cemetery, Turner's Cross, Cork. The eldest child of Patrick and Mary Curtis, she grew up a bright, intelligent girl, obtaining a scholarship to University College, Cork in 1930. She graduated with a BA in languages and a Higher Diploma in Education.
Teaching posts in secondary schools being in short supply for lay people at that time in Ireland, Maureen, whose mother was English, made her way to England, where she obtained a post teaching languages in St Bernard's Convent School for girls, Westcliffe-on-Sea. She was to serve most of her teaching career at St Bernard's, in time becoming head of the language department.
In the early years of the war she married Jack Black, whose untimely death left her to raise her infant son alone. In the early 1960s, on finding that her health was not strong enough to continue teaching, she took early retirement and returned to Cork, where her son Brian was a student at UCC. With renewed energy she began the work which was ultimately to lead to her being conferred with the Freedom of Cork in 1993.
In Cork, Maureen joined in a range of societies and organisations, such as the Women Graduates, and the Federation of Women's Organisations. But she saw with fresh eyes the difficulties and problems faced by many different groups and individuals. She got involved, and motivated people to solve those problems. At a time when there was great difficulty in getting information about such vital matters as Health and Social Welfare (it is difficult for us to appreciate that now), she worked through the Federation of Women's Organisations to provide an information system. And so came about the Cork Citizens' Advice Bureau - the first in Ireland, and a model for others to follow later.
It was she who, with the support of the Women Graduates, started the Cork Widows' Association. From her own experience she understood and empathised with the social isolation, with the impossibility of rearing young families on the widow's pension of the time, with the widows who lost the family farm or the family home when the husband died. It was also she who created a climate of opinion which ultimately led to the establishment of the position of Ombudsman.
She had vision, courage, leadership, a sense of justice, and above all, compassion. She was not intimidated by the system. It seemed unlikely that she was intimidated by anyone, or anything!
With Maureen's support, Josie Airey, as a private individual, took her case to the Court of Human Rights. At that time only those who were well off in Ireland could afford to seek justice in the High Court, contrary to the Convention on Human Rights. Maureen gave total support to Josie, even travelling backwards and forwards to Europe at her own expense. With Mary Robinson as counsel, Josie Airey won her case in Strasbourg. This landmark case established the rights of ordinary people to gain justice in Europe, and led to the establishment of free legal aid in Ireland and ultimately in the 21 countries that had signed the Convention on Human Rights.
When one thinks of Maureen one thinks of her friendship, her encouragement, and her huge generosity. She had no time for possessions, apart from a painting of the school in Westcliffe-on-Sea where she had taught, given to her by the pupils and teachers on her retirement.
It was people that Maureen cherished. She was involved in a very active way in the lives of many women in Cork. One remembers the children's picnics to the seaside and the Christmas parties organised by the Widows' Association - 200 small children, and so of course at least 200 mothers, with all the goodies, the gifts and the Santa Claus that delighted the children. Her wonderful work for the underprivileged earned her the Hanna Sheehy Skeffington Peace Prize.
Declining health forced Maureen to curtail her activities, yet she was still breaking new ground as she became the first local woman to be granted the freedom of the city of Cork. Maureen's illness over the past few years must have been particularly difficult for her. She was such an independent person. But she accepted it, still living life to her maximum. She devoured books; her friends had a path worn to the library for her. She continued to take deep, informed interest in current affairs and in her friends. Some of her friends, when asked what words they would associate with her, or use to describe her, said: "integrity", "commitment", "foresight", "she was valiant", "dedication", "a true friend", "vision", "determination", "challenging", "formidable", "a tower of strength", "a will to succeed, but not for her own advancement", "compassion" . . .
Maureen wasted none of her life. She lived it fully and generously. There is a saying that "we only take with us when we die, what we have given away while we lived". How very rich in every way Maureen must be now!
Maureen Curtis Black was a woman who recognised that there are many ordinary people who cannot make themselves heard. She worked tirelessly to give them a voice, and we are all in her debt.
She is survived by her son Brian, her sister and brothers, and her extended family.