Midwife Mary Ellen Coppinger

Midwife Mary Ellen Coppinger, Moylough, Co. Galway

Mary Ellen Coppinger was born Mary Ellen Connelly on 10th November 1919 at Brierfield, Abbeyknockmoy. Mary Ellen sat her exams in 1938, went to England in 1942 to train to be a nurse and midwife before returning and taking up a community midwife post at home in Moylough where she served her community for over 30 years. She met and married Willie Coppinger and they, and their family, ran a successful and very diverse business in Moylough that included a drapery, footwear, gas appliance, public house and other enterprises also. Over time the business has evolved and today is a very successful home furnishing enterprise.

Mary Ellen cycled her bike through every byway of the hinterland and delivered all of her babies in their homes. When a baby needed extra medical treatment they were often sent into the local Tuam Hospital in a little shoebox. She also attended to the needs of the Traveller women for their pregnancy and birth. When their time was nearing the traveller family would camp up in an area known as ‘Black Corner’, in Cloonoran near Moylough village.

Mary Ellen was approached by Mary Mannion from Moylough Social Services to write an article on her life and times as a midwife in the Moylough area and this invaluable contribution is contained in the local publication, ‘In a Lifetime’.

Mary Ellen is fondly remembered by her community and all who loved her, she passed away on 19th December 2010 at the great age of 91.

To read more on Mary Ellen’s story you can read it in the An Bhean Ghlúine ebook on our website here. To hear Mary Ellen’s daughter, Mary Dolan chatting with Emma Laffey for the An Bhean Ghlúine project just click the link in the gallery below.