My mother, Mary Johnson, who has died aged 92, spent most of her working life as a dinner lady in Cheetham, north Manchester, where she was one of the cornerstones of the local Irish community. She was born in Windfield, near Mountbellew, County Galway, to Patrick White, a farmer, and his wife, Bridget (nee Dempsey). She married Seamus Johnson (known as Jim), who worked in construction and as a bus driver, in 1950. Both became founder members and volunteers at the Irish World Heritage Centre and at Irish Community Care, both in Manchester. After retirement she became even more involved with the Irish centre and went on many holidays with its over-50s group.

Source: The Guardian January 08, 2018 17:48 UTC