As the Open University’s graduation ceremony began at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall, pride and joy filled the room when Maryette McFarland crossed the stage. Her eldest daughter, Shauna Gailey, was by her side, calling the moment “so exciting for her and for the rest of us.”
“She’s always regretted not finishing the Trinity Dublin degree — we all knew that,” Gailey said. “But she had four children and a busy life, and all the rest of it. To see her finally graduate after all these years is just incredible.”
Family members from across generations joined the celebration, starting the day with “a big family lunch” before watching McFarland receive her degree. Her daughter fondly recalled how her mother would sit on the sofa surrounded by “piles of books, with her laptop and tablet in front of her,” completely absorbed in her studies.
For McFarland, the milestone is not just a personal victory but a message to others. “If I can do it, anybody can do it,” she said proudly. “It’s never too late.”
Her achievement has inspired admiration both locally and online, with many praising her determination and lifelong love of learning. The Open University, known for its flexible approach to higher education, highlighted her story as proof that opportunity and education truly have no age limit.
As she celebrated with her family, McFarland reflected on her seven-decade journey from student to graduate — a path marked by love, resilience, and an unbreakable belief in second chances. Her story stands as a powerful reminder that the pursuit of knowledge is timeless, and dreams deferred can still come true — even at 90.