The award-winning science journalist, broadcaster and author Mary Mulvihill died on Thursday 11 June 2015, aged 55, following a short illness. A genetics graduate and Scholar of Trinity College Dublin, who later studied journalism at Dublin City University, Mary was one of the pioneers of science journalism in Ireland and a passionate advocate of women in science. Through her landmark publication, Ingenious Ireland, she made a lasting contribution to our understanding of Ireland's scientific, ecological and industrial heritage.
As founder of Women in Technology and Science (WITS), she played a vital role in highlighting the often neglected role of women in the history of Irish science. She edited two collections of biographies of Irish women scientists and pioneers – Stars, Shells and Bluebells (1997) and Lab Coats and Lace (March 2009).
She devised and presented several popular science series on RTE 1 and Lyric FM, and she was a longstanding contributor to the Irish Times, where she had a monthly column. As co-editor of Technology Ireland magazine, she nurtured the careers of many young science journalists who followed her into the profession.
Mary set up a successful business offering Ingenious Ireland walking tours and audio guides to her native Dublin, as well as to national sites of ecological and archaeological interest. She was due to speak at the InspireFest 2015 conference, celebrating women's leadership in science, technology and innovation. She is survived by her husband Brian Dolan and her sisters Anne and Nóirín Mulvihill.
Mary is remembered through the WITS Mary Mulvihill Lecture and by The Mary Mulvihill Award established by her family and friends to honour her memory and her work in science journalism, science communication and heritage and to promote her legacy.
