Carer of the Year: Mary's 50 year labour of love

THERE are tough conversations, and there are the ones that could break your heart. The chat between Mary McDonnell and her 50-year-old daughter, Sinead, fits neatly into the second category.

“She said ‘in four years time you’ll be 80, who’s going to look after me then?’” recalls Mary, 76. “It’s a worry for me and it’s a worry for her.

“She would never receive the level of care from anyone else that she does from me, and that’s not to criticise anyone else.