Mary "Muds" Locke facts for kids

Mary "Muds" Locke (1863–1943) was an important Irish businesswoman. She helped manage Locke's Distillery. She was also known for her strong spirit and active life.

Early Life and Family

Mary Edwards was born in 1863. She grew up in County Westmeath, Ireland. Mary was one of ten children in her family. Her father worked as an engineer on the railways. He worked in Mullingar under a famous builder named William Dargan. When her father passed away, her family faced tough times.

In 1881, when Mary was 17, she married John Edward Locke. His family owned Locke's Distillery. Mary and John lived in Brusna House, right next to the distillery. They had two daughters together. Their names were Mary Evelyn, who was called Sweet, and Florence Emily, known as Flo.

A Nickname and New Beginnings

Mary loved hunting and was very involved with the Westmeath Hunt. Because of her passion for this activity, she earned the nickname "Muds".

Later in her life, Mary and her husband decided to separate. This event attracted a lot of attention. The Locke family was well-known in the area. After the separation was final, Mary received money each year. Even though her situation changed, she continued to enjoy the Westmeath Hunt. She was also one of the first women in Westmeath to drive a car. After this time, she lived in Ballinagore house with her children. This house was close to Kilbeggan.

Helping During Wartime

When World War I began, Mary Locke traveled to France. She worked in different hospitals there. She helped people through the Red Cross.

After some time, she returned to Ireland. She continued her helpful work with the Westmeath Auxiliary Red Cross Hospital in Mullingar. The French government later honored her with medals for her important work.

Working at the Distillery

Mary Locke owned shares in Locke's Distillery. She became a director of the company after her brother-in-law, James Harvey Locke, passed away. She held this important position until her own death. However, her role in the company was somewhat limited.

Mary Locke passed away in 1943. She died in a nursing home in Dublin.