O’REILLYS THE DESIGN SALE 26th - 29th October 2022

13 THE DES IGN SALE | Wednesday 26th – Fr iday 28th of October casters to polishers to the staff working in all the various boutique locations. It was quite a remarkable business one thinks of all the auxiliary people who depended on Marika Jewellery Ltd. For their livelihoods. Marika had an immense love for animals, es- pecially horses. The Dublin Horse Show at the RDS was described as her Christmas! Her love for horses was unwavering all the way through her life. It continued even when she became too ill, after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In a 1988 interview with the SundayTribune, Marika tells Deirdre Purcell the last time she rode a horse, saying that “[she knew] instinctively that this was the last time she was going to ride.” Marika’s love for animals extended to dogs, and a particular poodle named Coco.The pair were inseparable, only for when Marika became too ill to care for Coco. She was then sent to stay with Clodagh Madden, who worked for Marika’s husband at the time. In an effor t to cheer Marika, Clodagh star ted writing letters to her as though they were from Coco, com- plaining about the lack of treats or affection she was experiencing! After Marika passed away the letters were compiled and published as a book, ‘Dear Marika: Letters from Coco’, copies can still be purchased today. In her final year, Marika had an exhibition of her life’s work together with Beth Mar tens, who was an American born sculptor.The ex- hibition took place in the Hendrick’s Gallery, St. Stephens Green. Shanahan’s on the Green now stands in its place. Many famous Irish fig- ures were in attendance at the exhibitions opening night. Eugene O’Neill of Ryanair made a special presentation of Marika’s work,