Mom gave me a lift in Adare one evening after she finished for the day at the Manor. She spoke about the people who she worked with as we travelled back towards Ballyine; people from all over the world. I've never seen anybody - me included - comment on colleagues in such glowing terms, especially people who she had little in common with culturally-wise. It delighted her to hear about other people's customs and traditions in places as far away as India and Pakistan. She welcomed all on equal terms.

Maybe the long summer days of my childhood spent with Dorothy are my fondest memories of her. Exploring the beautiful garden Dorothy had cultivated over the years was always a great pasttime for me and indeed Dorothy herself. Mark and I would often play outside which "occasionally" ended in an arguement, but Dorothy always managed to make peace between us. Dorothy had a kind, gentle manner which always won our hearts. I always looked forward to going up to Dorothy's. The Dunne family were always so open and fun-loving (they still are!) and made Mark and I feel welcome into their home. Dorothy, in my opinion, was the boss of the family. She kept everyone together with her loving ways and always knew what was best for her family. In all my years Dorothy never gave out to me or Mark. She constantly gave us love and attention and treated us as if we were her own. When I was little I told her "Dorothy, you're my second mother". Dorothy laughed and Mom gave me a suspicious look. I wasn't lying. We all miss you Dorothy and love you dearly.

I was about five or six years old, pottering around the garden, when i found the hedge cutters. Off i went in a spree of chopping the heads off every single red rose mom had in the garden, and i mean a lot of roses. Mom came out and ate me. I think there might have been a wooden spoon involved actually, she sent me to my bunk bed and i spent the next hour crying.. In came mom after an hour with a packet of marshmallows & gave me a hug. Mom was so soft & could never hold a grudge for long! I miss her terribly. X

It was very important for me to tell mom that I finally obtained my BA in Literature after 7 years part-time. I told her in March or April. She told me that it was one of the greatest stories that she had ever heard. I know that was something coming from mom.

Some of my best memories as a young fella were spent at the Dunne's house. We always had great craic and Doff was always there, in the thick of it, the calmest one in a mad house! Doff was genuinely the kindest, sweetest woman you could meet and I'll always remember her fondly.

A few years ago when I was at home on holiday, I was walking around the garden and noticed Dorothy had lovely flowers called aquelegia which I had in my own garden in England. Mine were red and yellow but Dorothy said hers always came up purple. I said I'd get the seeds of mine and bring them home the next time I was coming. Bringing flowers to Dorothy was like bringing ice to the eskimos - anyway, I had a rethink and said 'Jesus Dorothy I better not, they've just had Dutch elm disease in England, if I get caught they'll prosecute me'. She was filling up the kettle and turned round and said 'sure what harm, chance it anyway'. I couldn't stop laughing, and no - I didn't chance it.

When Jon was small he came to England to spend a week with myself and Rich. From the minute he landed they argued. If one of them had been in a plane, the other had been in a rocket!! Anyway I put them to bed one night and when I went in to check on them Jon was still awake. I sat on the bed and asked him was he homesick. His reply still gives me a lump in my throat to this day when I think of it. He said 'mom has lovely soft cheeks and when you kiss her you sink down into them'. I gave him a hug but I'm sure it was no substitute.

knowing Dorothys love of flowers & gardens it was always a dream of Flo & myself to treat her to the Chelsea Flower show but she was a home loving bird so we never got that chance. I used love winding her up about the Royal Family when we met. A charming loving woman who always had a welcome for her English cousins. We miss her deeply but our hearts go out to Bill and those members of the family who are left behind but they are strong and will survive with all those wonderfull memories of her courage and tenacity in the face of her long illness. You will always remain in our hearts & prayers Dorothy

Here I was, only a couple of weeks into my Irish adventure and I was invited to a Christening as a first date!! With my poor English, and a whole different culture, but I was made welcome into this lovely family´s home. God knows what she really thought of me that day and still made me feel so at home... Three months after, Jon tells her we are getting engaged, as a mom I am now, I can only imagine the shock she must have had, thinking I was some kind of Spanish Little Witch who cast a spell on her lovely son and soon will take him away from her...I could not see in the 10 years I knew her any sign of that but a very loving mother in law who made me feel part of a family, being so far away from my own. Now, I truly believe she is not that far away, only we can not see her, she is able to be in Ireland and Spain watching us all, taking special care of all her grandchildren. Dorothy I wished I had told you how much I loved you. RuthXXXX

I Laughed during the week when i received a great painting i had given to the framing shop in limerick,its a study of 2 astronauts walking on the moon,it cost nearly $300 so i really appreciate it,then I thought if Dor was with me here in the kitchen she would look at it and gently say "Yes its good and will look lovely in your Shed".I have a lifetime of memories which I will add to later.But now my life seems useless and empty without my lovely Wife and Friend,only for my Family being so loving and protective I dont really know how I would cope.

A few months before mom passed on, she called me to the kitchen. She was sitting at the table, studying the cupboard...presses etc and their general layout of the kitchen. She pointed to one of the presses. 'Open that.' Short and simple. I laughed and clicked my heels, 'Right away, miss!' She was on a mission; I could see that. At that stage I realized what was going on: dad had gone to town for something so mom was taking advantage of her time to change everything around in the presses. Just one of her re-organizing phases that she went through. I sweated that day, firing casserole dishes, plates, cups from one press to another and back again before dad returned with mom's fresh salmon. A tough ole bird who always kept her nest the way she wanted it. That's mom.

A Loving Great Aunt Who I Loved.Her Kindness Would Get To Everyone And Touch There Hearts I Remember When I Went To Ireland And We Were Looking For Treasure In The Back Yard And Dorothy Would Keep an eye on us from the window to make sure we were safe. Love Millie xx

From as long as I remember back to my childhood, my trips to Ireland were of course the best days of my life & going out to see the lads at the old mill were some of the most precious times I had. From the moment I pulled into the driveway & saw Bill,Dor & the lads I was as happy as could be. Dorothy was such a genuine,sweet woman I can never remember a cross word from her to me in all my years(and myself & the lads surely tested her patience at times!) I remember her beautiful garden that she tended to & took such great care of,her great dinners & her soft quite nature that would always make you feel so at home. I count myself very lucky indeed to have had the pleasure of knowing such a lovely lovely woman,a total family person & a credit to herself & those who knew her.To someone that always made me feel so welcome...for that Dorothy I thank you..There is very few people around with your qualities & I for one will always have you in my heart. Rich x

I've had a little t-light burning in front of Dorothy's photo over Christmas. Its my way of remembering her - not that I could ever forget her. I remember when her and Bill got married - I was going through a rebellious phase, actually it lasted another 20 years, anyway I remember saying to Bill that I wouldn't go to the wedding if I had to wear a dress. He was so frustrated with me, he was furious and said that fine so, don't go!!! Fast forward a couple of weeks and I was standing for the wedding photos in my maroon and white creation - a mini dress if thats not too traumatising to think of for those who know me!! That was the day I had duck a la orange for the first time in the hotel in Limerick. Thats all I remember about the day except I thought everyone was looking at me in my mini cos I was gorgeous!!!!! What I do remember clearly is that Bill found the love of his life - she was loved absolutely. I remember talking to my friend when Dorothy was very sick, and we talked about the unfairness of it all and Julia said 'Eil when people say lady about someone, they don't actually mean it. The difference with Dorothy is that she is exactly that - a real lady. What a lovely thing that is to be - a real lady.

Dublin airport, Feb, 1999. Mom cried while we were having a final coffee before I sett off on my travels to India. She never tried to talk me out've it and I always respected her for that. It was something that she couldn't understand but she understood how important it was for me. She taught me something that day: she was a mom who had the ability to think for herself and trust her gut instinct.

Happy Christmas mom.xx

Me,Joanna and mom went for a drive to Ballybunion on September 23rd 2008 for moms birthday.It was the last time we had a girls day out but it was such a lovely day with just the 3 of us.We parked up where we had a good view of the sea.We brought a picnic which contained a flask of tea,sandwiched,taytos and scotch eggs which,if I can remember,me and mom made the night before.Ony problem was it was the windiest day EVER and we ended up eating grass and sand in our sandwiches and our tea kept blowing out of our cups,ha!God loves a trier!x

We were discussing and laughing the other night about the times dad threw us out of the car for being bold and we always knew that mom would come back in for us! 1 example is one time,we were coming down the back of the home and I threw a Snickers bar at moms face(by accident)and dad stopped the car and turfed me out and told me to walk home!!After about 10 mins of walking,along came the Opel Kadet-JIV 7 in the distance,bombing in the road with mom at the drivers seat.She couldnt bare to see her babies walk home!Thanks for all the lifts mom!xx