ACADEMIC Dr Áine Downey has been remembered as a “strong, formidable and free” woman with “a heart of gold”.
Mourners at her Requiem Mass at St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry were told she lived her life through her faith in God, in people and in place.
A retired psychologist and university lecturer, Dr Downey (78) died at her home in Derry on Monday. Her funeral yesterday was held under strict coronavirus restrictions but broadcast online.
She was one of the few native Irish speakers to grow up in the 1940s unionist heartland of east Belfast where her family were known by neighbours as “the Mickeys who speak Chinese”. Her story was revealed in a book published by her sons, Garbhán and Cormac and featured in The Irish News last month.
Born in Fintown, Co Donegal, in 1942, Dr Downey's family moved to Belfast when her father, Richard Morton took up a teaching job.
At her funeral, Fr Paul Farren said Dr Downey had a commitment to social justice and Catholic education.
“She passionately believed in education for people from the youngest age. She was pioneering, her belief in people was radical. She believed in her students. She believed in people with addictions. She believed in prisoners when she went to teach in Crumlin Road jail.
“She believed in every child and especially in those whose disabilities might be more obvious than others. She believed passionately that they too were the beloved children of God.”
Fr Farren said Dr Downey believed in the potential of the youngest children, campaigned for nursery and pre-school education and for the weakest in society. She believed that anything that denied the weakest, such as academic selection, should be eradicated from society.
“She was strong; she was formidable; she was fearless and she was free. Áine had a heart of gold,” he said.
She had a “wonderful” generosity and gave freely whenever needed, Fr Farren said.
