maken Legarreta

Saddened to learn today of Mackens passing. My condolences to all who knew and loved her.

I’ve fond memories of Macken introducing films and encouraging questions at Film Qlub. Sourcing the films, getting permissions to show them, and co organising a season for many years took an enormous amount of time and effort. All in the audience whether we went just once, or many times got to experience a beautiful sense of community, pride and a hope for more equality. An achievement that shouldn’t be underestimated.
A gifted communicator, kind, welcoming, inclusive and genuinely interested in the welfare of others, Macken gave so much to her community. I’ll miss the times our paths would cross coming to or from IMMA, or out and about: even if it was just a wave you would walk away feeling better having seen her.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
Rest in peace

Sending love & light to all who mourn the passing of this exceptional woman especially her family & her beloved Kitty who brought so much joy into her life..
Macken send us a beautiful card just before Christmas to let us know that we were on her mind & with a present for our new puppy, such a lovely generous gesture.
Sleep easy dear Macken, we were so lucky to have you as a friend. We will treasure all the memories of the time we spent together xx

Saddened to hear the news of Maken's passing. RIP my heartfelt condolences to her loved ones.

I am so sorry to hear this sad news. Maken will be missed. Her energy and knowledge brought such a force of intelligence to her work in IMMA. I am eternally grateful for everything she taught me. Rest in power old friend.

I am so sorry to hear about Maken's passing. I met Maken through the Dublin FilmQlub, when we worked together on some German programmes. She was always so knowlegable and kind, I have many fond memories of her. My thoughts are with all her family and friends.

I had the privilege of meeting Maken in UCD in 1998, and I remained on the periphery of her wide and brilliant life ever since. I'm truly heartsore to know she has been taken from that life far too soon. I've never known a person more magnetic, with such a generous and accommodating spirit, before or since; in everything she did, Maken brought the best of herself, and brought out the best in others. A brilliant scholar, writer, playwright, and friend, Maken meant so much to so many, and the pain of her loss is widely felt. My most heartfelt condolences to her beloved Kitty, to Jagoba, and Gurendane, and to the many who mourn this incredible, principled, committed, talented, and passionate woman. I am the richer for having known her.

Goian bego Maken. Agur laguna.I am really sad to hear the news. Same as Maken I am Basque living in Dublin. I first met Maken around 12 years ago in Dublin. She invited me to the launch of her book in Bilbao and attended a few years later as well a play at Connollys bookshop. Maken was a really nice and polite person. We used to meet at IFI Irish Film Institute and sometimes in some festivals and arts related events. We spoke in our mother tongue Basque Euskera. I remember meeting Maken at Grand Canal when she was going for walks with her partner Kitty. I am sad and send my deepest condolences to Kitty and Maken brother ans sister. Makenren bihotza Kitty bere ahizpa eta anaia bihotz bihotzetik. Zure laguna. Miren-Maialen

We are so sad to hear of the passing of Maken - she was a constant part of our lives from the early 90s and the days of the first lesbian club in Dublin (Salon at the Cellary); I knew Maken through UCD where she was one of the most brilliant, innovative and radical scholars I've had the privilege to know, as well as a challenging but immensely kind and supportive teacher. I will miss her intellect, her capacity to bring communities together, and her lovely smile and laugh. In more recent years, I would often stop to chat to her as I walked my dog along the NCR. May you rest in peace, and our condolences to your loved ones.

Please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of Maken. She was a wonderful friend and ally to me and I'm heart broken to hear this news. She was kind, generous, an amazing thinker and gifted teacher. Kitty, I never got the change to meet you but I know you brought Maken great happiness. May she rest in peace.

We were so saddened to hear of makens passing.
Heartfelt condolences to Kitty
Jagoba, Gurendane and extended family and friends.
We had the joy of meeting maken through the film club and plays we had attended.
It was always such a joy to meet maken, her enthusiasm, welcome, wit and playful energy
will always stay with us.
We hold you in our hearts and minds till we meet again.
Tunna & Nuala

Very sorry to hear of Makens passing. I will always be grateful to her for some lovely Saturday afternoon spent in her film Qlub, followed by group discussions in The Front Lounge, A warm and welcoming person, her events including the full moon club were wonderful...A very down to earth academic and inspirational woman who was very kind. God bless you and thanks Maken R.i.p...condolences to Kitty and her family.

We volunteered together on the 2005 forerunner to Gaze Film Festival. What a great experience that was for me, the novice, and you, the expert. You were earnest, dedicated, caring and great fun! Over the years since we’d bump into one another like long lost friends. So very sorry to learn you’ve gone too soon. Agur, lagun maitea! 💚

Maken was a very bright light that drew us all from far and wide to the amazing events she organized. She created bridges everywhere, across all differences, encouraging us to learn from each other and reminding us of the vast assortment of talents that were previously hidden in our community. Through Maken our world expanded from the arts to the sciences and beyond. Without knowing anything about theatre or costumes, I had the surprising delight of finding myself helping the actors dress for one of the many plays Maken produced and I had a ball! So many of us have such a lot of great memories thanks to Maken's generous heart. She included us all and helped us forge friendships and bonds that brought so much joy in a world where being lgbtq+ can still feel isolating at times. Thank you Maken for being you and I am so grateful to have known you. My heartfelt condolences to her beloved Kitty and to Jogoba and Gurendane. Another beautiful luminous star is shining brightly in the skies. A Hui Hou Kākou - until we meet again,

Deepest condolences to Makens partner and family. I met her through my good friend Niamh brennan and Maken was always kind, friendly and welcoming especially at the film club. May she rest in peace.

We were shocked and saddened to hear of maken’s sudden passing. So many fond memories of meeting maken over the years, in UCD, at parties, events, IMMA or just running into maken on the street, such a lovely talented and unique woman, we always came away feeling uplifted and energized.
Deepest sympathy to Kitty, Jagoba, Gurendane and family on the loss of your beloved maken.

It was a beautiful memorial service that Maken would have loved. We knew Maken for almost 20 years since her days in UCD and will miss her. xxx

To Kitty and Macken’s extended family and friends, sincere sympathy to you all. May love and light mind you and guide you in the weeks and months ahead. May she rest in peace.

Every second of every minute of the time I had the pleasure to spend in Maken’s company was infused with the most beautiful and exciting energy, compassion and a desire to max out on the potential of the moment and I am forever changed and uplifted by it. My heart goes out to the loved ones she has left behind as we say goodbye today.
May the road rise to meet you Maken. I’ll see you in the next one too.
With Love and Light,
John

Sleep peacefully dear Maken...and thank you x

My thoughts are with Kitty, your family and all who feel your loss.

So very sorry to hear of Maken’s passing, she was the essence of kindness and creativity. Deep condolences to her loved ones.

On behalf of UCD School of English, Drama and Film, please accept our deepest sympathies and condolences to Kitty, Jagoba, Gurendane, and all of Maken's family and many friends. She will be sadly missed on our corridors, where she was always such a warm, engaging, and supportive presence, and where her passion for Irish literature and her wonderful scholarship on the work of Kate O'Brien shone through every seminar and every encounter.

I am so sorry to hear the very sad news of dear Maken’s passing. My deepest sympathies to Kitty, Jagoba, Gurendane, extended family and friends.

I was lucky enough to work with Maken at Imma. She was so interested in everything , the artists, exhibitions and what all her colleagues were doing , always encouraging, concerned and kind while working on all her own brilliant projects. Rest easy Maken I’ll always remember you.

The brightest of bright lights has gone out but maken leaves a legacy that will never dim or fade. She was blessed with many academic and creative gifts, hard work, humility and an amazing sense of humour. She was above all generous; with her time, her knowledge and her insights. She nurtured so many fledgling writers, actors and was adored by her students. She brought us all the world through film and art. She made beautiful food, had hundreds of friends and made sure everyone felt included. She encouraged us to feel proud to be out and to celebrate every aspect of ourselves. She was loyal, unassuming and the brilliance of her mind was matched by the softness of her heart. A whole community is heartbroken. Our hearts go out to her beloved Kitty, her brother Jagoba and sister Gurendane and all who knew and loved her. Ni bheidh a leithead aris ann,

We are shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of maken. She was a wonderful gain to Dublin from her work with Film Qlub to IMMA to Running Amach to her playrighting and acting. It's a true loss to the artistic community here. But she was also a funny, insightful, vibrant personality to talk to at the Front Lounge or parties. We'll miss her so much and are so glad to have known her and experienced her joyful energy. All the condolences from the bottom of our hearts to Kitty, Jogoba, Gurendane and all extended family and friends. RIP

Maken was a brilliant scholar, a inspiring and passionate teacher, a wonderful creator and writer of plays and artforms of many kinds. She was a person of singular integrity, and unwavering political and ethical commitments, coupled with a huge warmth and an immensely charismatic presence, with an utterly distinctive voice. Her work on Kate O'Brien, powerfully illuminating the utopian prospects of the author's feminist and internationalist politics, and her interventions into queer studies and Irish modernism were pioneering and field-making, and charged with originality and urgency. And Maken was such a wonderful, generous person, who did much to make me feel at home when I first moved to Ireland and knew no one (for she herself knew the loneliness of the expatriate), inviting me for tea and cakes, or on excursions to see art, or going to see small plays in the Connolly, or hanging out at the Anarchist Book Fair, and even though she had very little, always went out of her way to share what she had. I am shaken and saddened to hear of her sudden death. She has touched so many people's lives, and made an indelible impression in UCD and all the students she taught there. She will be deeply missed. Heartfelt condolences to her loved ones and family. Rest in Power, Maken.

To bhrom oram faoi bás a fháil, I was sorry to hear of the passing of the energetic and brilliant Maken. My commiseration to all her friends, family and all who were lucky to meet her

Macken, we shall mourn your passing with a very sad heart. Taken all too soon. In life you gave and shared your unbelievable talents creating so many vital opportunities for us to "belong" - to find common ground to find our tribe. Whether we became best friends or mere acquaintances you created spaces of trust, dignity and respect. Your presence instilled a zest for life, knowledge and equality; joy, laughter and fun. Travel well where ever you land Macken, your spirit will survive in our hearts.

Shocked and saddened to hear of Maken's passing last pm via Noeleen, RIP. I did not know Maken was ill. A grounded force in the RA community & beyond on film, theatre, politics and social justice issues. Sincere condolences to Maken's family, friends and all who knew her. She will sure be missed by many people. Fond memories. BG x

So sorrowful to hear today that macken has passed away... She was a warm, friendly, intelligent, creative soul, with the most wonderful smile. We met many years ago in our rathmines bedsit days.... Rest easy macken.. Anne

The sky has gained another bright star. Your presence will be missed by all your friends and colleagues at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and I will especially miss your wisdom and infinite hopefulness. Sleep well Maken...

I have just heard the very sad news of the passing of Maken.
As a past member of Running Amach, and all the people I met from the New Theatre, the Full Moon. It's with so much sadness that I heard of your passing. Thoughts are with all those who share with losing you as part of their lives.

RIP

Mo Doyle

Maken has touched so many lives, with her creativity and determination. She always inspired and supported her many friends. This is a huge loss. She will be remembered always,.My heartfelt condolences to Kitty, brother , sister and family, friends&colleagues from IMMA

Maken was such a lovely person. I knew her through film events, she was so passionate and supportive towards people trying to create and do stuff. A very special person. I am so sorry for your loss. Rest in peace Maken x

We are shocked, devastated and saddened to lose ‘our very own’ maken, who passed away yesterday. She was lovely, gentle and a ‘shining star’ in our community! She gave so much to us, encouraged us, supported us, lead us, shared her intelligence and creativity with us, smiled and laughed with us….the list could go on and on! As an outstanding and committed Event Host for Running Amach, maken hosted and created so so many dynamic, diverse and eclectic events for us. She brought so many women together and encouraged them to ‘stretch’ themselves and share their talents, knowledge and experiences with us. maken had a ‘loyal’ following due to her ability to bring people together and their accomplishments...knew no bounds. When I say that you would do anything for maken…I mean it! maken was unassuming and humble in all that she created and gave us. She gave us spaces to be ourselves and to make friends. It was fitting that maken won ‘Volunteer of The Year’ at the 2020 GALAS. It brings us comfort now, that we honoured and showed maken how much we loved and appreciated her. maken who was from The Basque Country adopted Ireland…and we adopted her! I will never see a ‘Full Moon’ and not think of and remember maken. Our condolences to Kitty, her siblings, maken’s many many friends and her extended family. Goodbye our friend…you will be sorely missed, x

So very sorry to hear of Makens passing.
May she rest in peace
Maken was an inspiration and a delight to all who knew her and she will be missed.
My thoughts and condolences to all her family and friends
Lorraine and Sharon xx

My deepest condolences to all, especially to Kitty, Jagoba and Gurendane. Thinking of you all.

maken: an inspiration in every way, a joy and a treasure.
Aoife