THERE came a moment in time when Peter Rafferty needed a little help from his friends when he got sick.
Now his wife Mai has dedicated her collection of poetry to those friends who volunteer for Cancer Connect.
“I created this book of poetry to donate proceeds to Cancer Connect to give back to them as a thank-you,” says Mai, who lived at Commane, Killavullen, with Peter. He sadly passed away in December, 2021.
A Moment In Time is a collection of poetry by Mai that depicts the idyllic rural life she and Peter enjoyed among the joys of nature.
“Thank-you is a very small word for the care, kindness and understanding shown to Peter during his journey with cancer,” says Mai, who now lives at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.
The organisation Cancer Connect came on board with the transport needed for him to attend all his treatments.
They were a Godsend.
“What wonderful people they were,” says Mai.
“They made his journey bearable. Sadly, Peter passed from this life on December 15, 2021.
“Today, Cancer Connect continues to give that care and understanding to so many more people.”
Cancer Connect co-ordinate transport to Cork hospitals for people requiring Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy and related treatments.
Mai and Peter’s love story is poetry in motion.
Peter was a man of the land.
“He was from the Cooley Peninsula in Co. Louth,” says Mai.
Situated beside the ancient provinces of Midhe and Ulaidh and the long-contested Gap of the North, this is a place of legend and history.
He was a horticulturist, he grew tomatoes, cucumbers and flowers.
Peter grew on Mai from the very start.
“He was working on two acres of Clifford House Gardens. We knew the family. One evening mum asked Peter to dinner.”
There was an instant connection..
“Yes, it was love at first sight for both of us,” says Mai laughing at the memory. “A year later we were married.”
Mai cultivated her own career for 36 years.
“I ran a Montessori and Drama School in what was my father’s workshop,” says Mai.
“My dad was a carpenter, and he converted his old workshop into a Montessori School for me.
“During the oil crisis, the glasshouse industry closed, and Peter used to give maths grinds and he still grew tomatoes. We made a living, and we became a big part of the community, going regularly to the farmer’s market in Killavullen.”
All they needed was love.
“We lived in the countryside surrounded by nature,” says Mai.
“Our hearts were always in nature. Peter loved swallows and he was fascinated by them, watching the birds down the boreen by the river. He watched the swallows eat the flies before they built their nests.”
Mai loved Peter.
He was easy-going; he was caring. We had an idyllic life together.
Peter was talented too.
“He loved music, and he played the uillean pipes. He loved growing vegetables and flowers. He had green fingers. We lived in a beautiful place.”
Then fate cruelly intervened, interrupting the couple’s idyllic lifestyle in their little piece of paradise.
“We were sitting eating at the kitchen table one June evening in 2021 and Peter found it difficult to swallow,” says Mai.
“We decided to go the doctor, who sent us to the Mercy Hospital in Cork.”
The last thing either Peter or Mai expected was a cancer diagnosis.
“It was a huge shock,” says Mai.
“A cancer diagnosis was the last thing we expected. We suspected narrowing of the oesophagus maybe, but we got the worst news.”
Peter started treatment in CUH.
“He responded to his treatment very well,” says Mai.
The medical staff at the hospital were very good to him. It was during the Covid pandemic.
The Raffertys lived 20 miles from Cork.
“Cancer Connect came on board,” says Mai.
Strangers became friends.
“The drivers would arrive at our house, they waited for Peter, they took him to all his medical appointments and brought him home. I couldn’t drive. We made great friends with the Cancer Connect volunteers. They are just brilliant people. Strangers became friends.”
Mai and Peter became strangers.
“After an operation and when his treatment finished, we waited a month for more tests to be done. Unfortunately, over that time the cancer all came back. Peter went into hospital. That was it.”
The void left in Mai’s life after Peter, the love of her life, passed away, was unbearable.
“Peter’s death left a huge gap in my life,” says Mai.
We had no family, and I couldn’t drive. I didn’t know what to do.
As a united couple, Mai and Peter always knew what to do.
“Peter and myself set out to create this book, A Moment In Time, says Mai.
“Peter very kindly illustrated the first 18 poems. He also painted the image of the workshop on the front cover. I would like to acknowledge the help and creativity of young graphic design student Amy Connaughton for her beautiful illustrations.”
With Peter gone, Mai decided to leave their home too.
“After Peter’s death, I sold our home in Killavullen, and came here to the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow. I know the owners and some of their relatives.”
Mai has found tender loving care once more.
“The care, kindness and understanding shown to me by everyone here is amazing,” she says.
A Moment in Time is an amazing collection of poems in aid of Cancer Connect.
Mai derived wonderful inspiration for her book of poetry from her natural surroundings and from the love she shared with her husband.
“Where we lived was very rural,” says Mai.
She describes the piece of paradise where the couple lived happily ever after.
“We were surrounded by the birds, the bees, and the wonders of nature,” says Mai.
Mai, with all her talents for teaching and speech and drama, has long had a way with words.
“Yes, I always wrote a bit of poetry,” she says.
I collected old books of poems from old drawers in the house.
She collected a lot of fans too.
“The book was sold out at the launch last month! I’ve had to order 100 more copies!”
Mai has her own fan club.
“Old pupils came to the book launch, former neighbours and friends all came along. It was wonderful”.
It is wonderful that the combined artistic efforts of both Mai and Peter has already raised more than €6,000 for Cancer Connect.
“The organisation are delighted with the funds raised so far,” says Mai.
“And again, thank you to Cancer Connect and the many friends who encouraged me to create this beautiful book in honour of Peter.”
Poem for Peter
When the swallows gather
And build their nests
Remember me.
When Summer flowers blow in the wind
And enrich the eye with their sight and scent
Think of me
When Autumn leaves touch the ground
And a blanket of colour is woven round
Speak of me
When the stillness of Winter calms the earth
And we wait for a time of renewal and rebirth
Pray for me.
Cancer Connect is located at 12 Barrack Street Bantry, P75 H429. Phone;021-203 8525. See Cancerconnect.ie for more
