Mary M. Tierney, at 73, Boston Traveler reporter

Mary M. Tierney of Hull, a longtime, colorful reporter for the old Boston Traveler and Irish Echo, who also worked for the Massachusetts Port Authority for many years, died recently in South Shore Hospital, Weymouth. She was 73.

Ms. Tierney was active in many Irish-American organizations, including the Eire Society, which she served as president in 1987 when the organization marked its 50th anniversary.

Norm Gray, retired Traveler city editor and Herald news editor, said, "Mary was one of Boston’s best known and most respected reporters.

"Her enthusiasm and love of life led her to many exclusive stories in the city she loved," Gray said. "She was one of those very rare characters who knew everybody in the city, from city workers to the governor."

Ms. Tierney began in her teens covering Roxbury District Court for the Traveler and stayed with the paper until it merged with the old Boston Herald in 1967.

She covered such notable people as Senator and later President John F. Kennedy and had an exclusive interview with Fidel Castro in 1962. She also covered the sinking of the Andrea Doria in July 1956.

She was also well known for her Irish column, which ran weekly.

Jim Mahoney, who also worked with Ms. Tierney on the Traveler, said, "She was a great woman, a top-notch reporter and often she would stay after her shift was over to see how a story would turn out.

"She was a real woman-about-town and knew people all over the place, from City Hall to the State House and the courts," Mahoney said. "She was very well liked and, because of all her contacts, she got a lot of stories."

Kathleen Lawlor, who served on the Eire Society with Ms. Tierney said, "She was always proud she was Irish before it became vogue and she never put down the Irish flag.

"She was still attending (Society) board meetings and if she didn’t like something, she’d let you know about it," Lawlor said.

After Ms. Tierney left the Traveler, she went to work at the Washington Post. She was a familiar face at the National Press Club, where she was befriended by ABC’s Sam Donaldson and other national reporters.

While in Washington, she had a presidential appointment to Public Affairs in Action and was directory of the Washington office of New York Shipping.

After returning to Boston, she worked for Massport and wrote for the Irish Echo. At the time of her death, Ms. Tierney was employed in public relations by the Massachusetts Highway Department.

She leaves a cousin, John Taylor of Oakland, Me., five nieces and five nephews.