“I am so proud to be the son of a single mother,” wrote Arran Mannion (20) in the letter he sent to Woman’s Way, entering his mum Susan into the Mum of the Year awards.

“She is a tower of strength and does everything with the utmost integrity,” he added. “She has overcome every single challenge and adversity she has encountered with a positive outlook and attitude. She really is Number 1 in my eyes.”

“I didn’t know anything about this until Arran called me yesterday and told me I was one of the winners,” laughs Susan. “I just can’t believe it. It’s the last thing I ever expected. I’m delighted.

“Arran is such a good kid and we didn’t have it easy. It was so hard. I had him when I was 17 and in fifth year at school. But there was never a minute when I thought, I can’t go through with this, or I have to leave school or anything like that.”

In his letter, Arran says: “When I was six weeks old, mum returned to school and completed her Leaving Cert as normal.

“She did very well despite having a new born baby to look after and bagged herself a place at Mater Dei teacher training college in Dublin.

“Fast forward four years and mum graduated with an honours degree from the college, courtesy of Dublin City University. Wanting to better herself even further, and wanting the best life for me, she continued with her studies on a Masters of Education programme, whilst teaching part time, all the while rearing me, with the help of my grandparents and making sure I was well looked after.”

“My focus was Arran,” says Susan, “And I trained as a teacher so that my working timetable would suit his timetable once he started school.

“When I became pregnant so young, there had been a lot of negativity from people and I was determined to prove them wrong.

“It is very hard having a child so young and there have been some very hard times, but we have a wonderful relationship and I consider him my best friend.

“He has really grown up into a wonderful young man. He’s so kind and caring.”

On completing her Masters, with honours, in 2006, Susan secured a full time teaching job in Rice College, Westport.

Continues Arran: “14 years later and my mother has really left her mark on the world. A giver by nature, mam always felt she had more to give. So, once I turned 18 she decided she was going to fulfill a lifelong dream of volunteering and in July 2018 travelled to the townships of Cape Town for two weeks, to teach, educate and care for the children there.

“Mam fundraised tirelessly, spoke on the local radio and was interviewed for local papers. She raised over €3,500 for the charity and also secured critical supplies and resources that she took in her suitcase with her - any that she couldn’t bring due to weight allowances, she ensured were flown out at a later date.

“Following her return from Cape Town mam concentrated on me securing the best possible Leaving Cert by encouraging me to focus on my studies and supporting me in every way possible.

“I am now studying Occupational Health & Safety at Sligo IT and because we do not receive a grant this is solely funded by mam.

“When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, again mam felt she had more to give and on learning that the Irish Cancer Society needed support in the form of volunteer drivers to bring cancer patients to their chemotherapy appointments, she signed up.

“She also started raising money for the charity as they were at a huge deficit due to the pandemic, and decided to do a Marathon in a Month fundraiser.

“She raised over €1,300 and ran 134km in 30 days.

“However, mam’s charity work doesn’t stop there. She also volunteers with Mayo SPCA CLG, an organisation dedicated to caring for animals who are abandoned or in need of homes.”

“I do like to help and give,” says Susan. “I’m a very sensitive person and so is Arran. Now that he is grown up and away at college, I have a lot more time, so I like to help people.”

The final word goes to Arran: “If mam could do more, she would do more. She is an amazing person and somebody I am very proud of.”