Described as an ordinary person who has achieved extraordinary things, Wyn's foresight and determination has resulted in thousands of children with disabilities enjoying a better quality of life.

"To see St Gabriel's now is wonderful. It is a real step forward.I am very proud of how far we have come," said Wyn.

In 1934 when her father, Arthur, was appointed general manager of Limerick Clothing Company, Wyn arrived in the city.

In the early 1930s Limerick had no facilities to care for children with disabilities. However, Arthur Crabtree soon set about addressing this need when he and a group of like-minded business men established what became known as St Gabriel's Centre.

Little did these business people realise that this small day care centre – with only three children on the first day it opened its doors in St Joseph's Street – would grow and expand to incorporate a range of education and health related services that now cater for up to 500 children and young adults in the Mid West.

Foremost to the development has been Wyn.

"We started with three children and at the end of the first week, we had six. We were then asked if we would take more physically disabled children and that was the start of the clinic. My biggest regret is that my father isn't here to see it now and the rest of the early committee, but I'm looking forward to the future," she explained.

From the 1960s Wyn's vision and unwavering commitment oversaw the improvement of specialist services to thousands of children and young adults with children with physical /sensory and/ or multiple disabilities in the region.

Her tireless campaigning eventually led in 1978 to St Gabriel's School being recognised by the Department of Education.

That recognition brought a new momentum and the school moved from an outdated building to a purpose-built school beside the centre in Dooradoyle. It offers individualised curriculum at primary and secondary level.

Wyn could see the enormous stress that families came under when they had to travel to Dublin for specialist services, and not one for sitting on her laurels she set about developing these essential services in St Gabriel's Centre.