Tributes paid to Cork broadcaster Elmarie Mawe after cancer battle
Elmarie Mawe, the presenter of The Arts House on Cork's 96FM and C103, has died after a long battle with cancer. The broadcaster, who hosted the Sunday morning show for more than 25 years alongside her husband Conor Tallon, was remembered by colleagues and the arts community as a tireless champion of Cork's cultural life.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Damian Boylan, described Mawe as a "brilliant broadcaster and teacher" and a "passionate and much loved champion of the arts." In a statement, he said her contribution to the cultural landscape of Cork and Ireland was "immense."
"As host of The Arts House on Cork's 96FM and C103 for almost quarter of a century, she was the voice of the arts in Cork and beyond, and a regular feature of peoples' Sunday mornings," Boylan said. "Week after week, she brought audiences closer to the worlds of theatre, literature, music, visual arts and community creativity, providing a platform for everyone from household names to emerging artists, to schoolchildren and the often marginalised."
Boylan highlighted Mawe's work during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that she worked "very hard" to ensure the arts remained an essential part of public life. He added that despite her own illness, "her enthusiasm was infectious and her commitment to supporting the arts never wavered."
A life in the arts
Mawe's connection to the arts began early. Boylan noted that she first performed on stage at Cork City Hall at the age of five during the Cór Fhéile competition, and later hosted several major civic and cultural events on that same stage, including the Lord Mayor's Christmas Gala.
Her long association with The Everyman Theatre was also recalled. A spokesperson for the theatre said: "We are so deeply saddened to learn of the death of Elmarie Mawe. For decades, Elmarie has been the voice of the arts in Cork as host of The Arts House on Cork's 96FM and C103. Elmarie was a passionate advocate for the arts and for our city, a consummate professional, and a welcoming host and interviewer. We're honoured to say that Elmarie had a long history with The Everyman."
It was at The Everyman Theatre that Mawe met her husband. The two first encountered each other at the theatre's bar in 1997, following her appearance in P. Gallivan's The Stepping Stone.
Recognition and teaching career
In December 2020, Mawe and her husband Conor received Cork Person of the Month recognition for their support of Cork's cultural landscape during the pandemic. In 2023, she was honoured with a Lord Mayor's Civic Award and Cultural Award for her contribution to the arts.
Beyond broadcasting, Mawe was a committed educator. She had taught violin at Limerick's School of Music and speech and drama at the Cork School of Music, and served as a primary teacher and Deputy Principal at Gurranes National School.
Last year, Mawe spoke openly about undergoing chemotherapy for stage 3 ovarian cancer, which she said was its fourth recurrence since 2018. Boylan said that those who worked with her recalled "her warmth and kindness, her professionalism as a broadcaster and as a teacher, and especially of her bravery and positivity during her illness."