Elmarie Mawe obituary: The ‘matriarch of the arts in Cork’ brought joy to everyone she touchedMy friend and fellow broadcaster introduced listeners to voices that may never have been heard, were it not for her love and profound knowledge of the Cork arts scene, writes PJ Coogan Fri, 04 Sep, 2026 – 16:00PJ Coogan
The French have an expression, joie de vivre.
In Spanish, it’s alegria de vivir, and in Italian, the language of the great operas, it’s goioa de vivere.
It means the joy of living.
Elmarie Mawe, who quietly left us last Monday, had that joy in buckets.
She exuded it.
On the darkest, coldest, wettest winter day, she would burst in, lighting the place up like a spring sunrise.
I first met her in 2001.
Elmarie, Nick Richards, and I had the job of waking up the people of Cork on Nick & Elmarie in the Morning on 96FM.
Nick and Elmarie had never met before then, but they were an instant hit.
I read the news on that show, all too frequently struggling not to giggle.
It was on the Arts House programme, however, that Elmarie excelled.
With a background in the arts, as an actor, an accomplished violinist, and a speech and drama coach, she was the natural choice when Eilís Geary, the founding presenter of the show, stepped back.
Nervous at first, she had a basic brief: List out what’s going on around town and play a bit of classical music.
She soon relaxed into it and, armed with a recorder and microphone, began interviewing musicians, actors, writers, producers, poets, painters, dancers, and even the occasional sculptor.
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‘A true champion of the arts’: Tributes paid after death of Cork broadcaster Elmarie Mawe
She brought to 96FM and C103 voices that, I say with confidence, may never have been heard, were it not for her love and profound knowledge of the Cork arts scene.
She gradually introduced her other half, Conor, to her listeners.
They had met in the Everyman bar, introduced by Joe ‘the real Santa’ Stockdale.
Their bond was instant, and their relationship was such that if you met one, the other was never far away.
An accomplished actor himself, Conor was a somewhat reluctant broadcaster in the early days, but of course, Elmarie was a teacher, and she kept at it with him until the show grew to be a combination of their skills, drawing astonishing listenership figures for 8am on a Sunday.
What was the magic behind the show?
It’s no mystery.
Elmarie gave the same importance to a tiny community drama group on the Beara Peninsula as she would to a West End production at Cork Opera House.
In her eyes, they both merited airtime, and they both got it.
She and Conor travelled to record choirs and chamber music, village hall plays, and poetry nights.
At times, the Arts House could be booked solid for content weeks in advance, but Elmarie never put up the ‘House Full’ sign.
She and Conor would fit your event in somewhere.
Why? Because they knew how hard you had worked on it.
It was my honour on Wednesday to devote an entire Opinion Line to my colleague and friend.
Yes, there was deep sadness, even tears, but there was also laughter, stories, and beautiful memories.
I think Eibhlín Gleeson, Cork Opera House chief executive, summed it up perfectly when she said: “Elmarie was the matriarch of the arts in Cork.”
We recalled how she had been a spectacular host for its 170th anniversary gala concert last year, even though she was unwell and undergoing yet another round of treatment at the time.
Adrian O’Mahony, from the Cork Youth Orchestra, told of Elmarie’s final performance as master of ceremonies for itsir summer event.
She had left hospital for the weekend, so as not to let them down.
Even when she was struggling, she insisted the show must go on.
Panto legend Catherine Mahon Buckley brought cake and memories, singer and producer Linda Kenny credited Elmarie with selling thousands of tickets over the years for her Sunday Songbook.
John Spillane recalled how she championed his ambitious folk opera — Legend of The Lough — while Colm O’Sullivan, principal of Gurrane National School, told of an adored teacher, gifted in her work with children.
Everyone spoke of the joy she brought, of Elmarie’s unwavering positivity, her depth of knowledge, her warmth, and that gorgeous, heaven-sent voice, the likes of which only the rarest of broadcasters are gifted.
The messages to our platforms and calls to our jammed switchboard said it all.
Our Elmarie was loved far and wide by people who never even met her.
My thoughts are with Elmarie’s family, and especially with Conor.
Last Saturday was the 29th anniversary of that introduction in the Everyman bar.
A chance encounter that became a life well lived together.
Rest easy, Elmarie, my joyful friend, and don’t worry, we’ll mind him for you.
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