27/02/2026
Meet Mary Reddy 💙
When Mary came to Temple Street Children’s University Hospital in March 1981, nursing degrees didn’t yet exist. Training was hands-on, demanding, and rooted in tradition.
But for Mary, there was never a doubt about the path she was meant to take. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be a paediatric nurse and was inspired by her mother, who had always dreamed of becoming a nurse herself. She completed the course in 1985 and began her career as a Staff Nurse in St Philomena’s Ward where exceptional mentors.
In 1990, Mary stepped into a brand-new role as one of the hospital’s first bed managers. Long before computers streamlined admissions, she managed patient flow with phone calls, letters, and handwritten logs. She remembers nights in Top Flat caring for up to 14 children at a time, often with sole responsibility. It was challenging work, but deeply meaningful.
She’s witnessed extraordinary changes in nursing practice and saw transformational drug therapies emerge, particularly for children with cystic fibrosis, dramatically improving quality of life and life expectancy.
In 2018, Mary was appointed CNM2 in the Respiratory Department, and in 2020 she transferred to Occupational Health and became a permanent member of that team in 2021, continuing her quiet, steady leadership behind the scenes.
What meant the most to her throughout her career was simple but powerful: seeing children recover and return home to their families. She found great joy in mentoring student nurses, encouraging them to grow not only in skill but in empathy and confidence.
Her proudest compliment, which was from her colleagues, still stays with her today:
“If any of my children were ever sick, I hope it is you that would look after them.”
Her fondest moments include receiving a gold medal at graduation marked an early moment of pride and a poem written by a grateful parent that hangs in her home, a lasting reminder of the difference she made.
As she closes this remarkable chapter after 45 years, Mary hopes to be remembered as kind, caring, and professional. Her advice to all student nurses is:
“Listen to the parents, observe your patients use your intuition." ❤️
