54 MARY B. FITZGERALD (nee O’Brien) 14th August, 1929 – 20th March, 2017 Kilminion South, Ballinroad, Dungarvan It is with deep sadness and regret that we record the passing of Mary B. Fitzgerald (nee O’Brien), Kilminion South, Ballinroad, Dungarvan, which sad event occurred on Monday, 20th March, 2017, at her residence, surrounded by her loving family, following a brief illness. Mary, wife of the late Toddy and mother of the late Patsy, was born on 14th August, 1929, in Ballinclamper, Ballinacourty, the fourth child and eldest daughter to bless the marriage of Johanna (nee Murray) and Michael O’Brien. She attended Ballinacourty School and helped out her mother and grandmother with housekeeping duties. Sadly, in January 1947, Mary’s mother passed away leaving nine children, the youngest being only 3 months old, so Mary was trussed with the mantle of mother to her five siblings at the age of 17, a trait she would continue for 70 years. Mary’s working life began in Carroll’s of Grawnfadda, minding children and continued this for various other families. In June 1951 Mary married the love of her life Toddy Fitzgerald, a daring move crossing the Bridge to find a man. Their marriage was blessed with eight children.They lived in various locations in Dungarvan, including Ballinamuck, Davis Street and Congress Villas, but in 1966 Mary and Toddy made their final move to Kilminion South, Ballinroad, and this would be their forever home, where they would stay for the rest of their lives and rear their children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. All these children were Mary’s pride and joy and she doted on each and everyone and nothing brought her greater joy than when they excelled in school, work or play. Mary loved the GAA and helped out in many ways over the years, whether it was selling tickets for the Deise Draw or the Christmas draws or Scór, but Mary’s pride and joy was the Sunday night bingo in aid of her beloved Abbeyside/Ballinacourty where she sold the books for 32 years and was only one of two founding members still serving on this sub-committee. She also attended bingo in various outlets throughout the South-East, including Dungarvan, Clonmel, Piltown and Waterford; there was often weeks where she was only at home on a Saturday night because of all the many commitments she had to all these organisations. Mary was also a lifelong pioneer and received her Gold Pin in 1994. In June 2005 Mary’s faith was dealt a blow with the sudden passing of her son Patsy and in 2009 with the death of her beloved Toddy; these two events had a huge impact on Mary’s life and deepened her devotion to Our Lady and the Church. A woman of deep Christian faith, Mary prayed the Rosary daily and had visited Lourdes on twenty different occasions. When Mary herself was told a few short weeks ago that her time on earth was almost done, she set about organising her own funeral, from who did the readings, to her casket and she even requested that Fr. Peter Ahearne be the main celebrant at her Requiem Mass; all these wishes were granted to Mary in a moving and fitting funeral service. Lying in repose at her home on Tuesday evening, Family Rosary was recited by Mary’s sisters Catherine,Vera and Theresa and daughters-in-law Helen and Deirdre, in the presence of her loving family and close friends. On Wednesday night, Rosary was recited by Fr. Ned Hassett, P.P., in the presence of a large gathering of Mary’s family and neighbours and many, many friends. On Thursday morning, in the presence of a large concourse of mourners, Mary’s casket was carried shoulder high by her sons and grandsons, draped in the colours of her native Ballinacourty, the short distance to St. Laurence’s Church for Requiem Mass at 11.00 a.m. A guard of honour from Abbeyside/Ballinacourty GAA lined the route. Fr. Peter Ahearne was the chief celebrant of the Mass, assisted by Fr. Matt Cooney, O.S.A., and by Fr. Ned Hassett, P.P. At the beginning of Mass symbols representing Mary’s life were presented to the Altar by Mary’s great grandchildren;Tammy brought forward a bingo book and Ballinacourty jersey; Aoife brought forward a betting slip; Ceilena brought forward a shell; Lacey brought forward the family photo album; Ross brought forward Mary’s pioneer certificate;Will brought forward a ball of wool and knitting needles; Mary’s special granddaughter Anne brought forward Mary’s Lourdes name tag and Pilgrimage badge; the significance of these items in Mary’s life was narrated by her grandson Thomas. The readings were recited by Christopher Cavanagh (great grandson) and Tara Fitzgerald (grand-daughter). The Responsorial Psalm ‘On Eagle’s Wings’ was sung by Mary’s sister Vera Noonan. Prayers of the Faithful were delivered by Jack Kavanagh (great grandson), Jodi Kavanagh (great grand-daughter), Adam Cavanagh (great grandson), Eoin Fitzgerald (grandson), Theresa Keane (sister), Shania Cavanagh (great grand-daughter) and Lauren Kavanagh (great grand-daughter). The Offertory Gifts of bread and wine were presented by Mary’s
OBITUARY sister Catherine Morrison and daughter Maura Kavanagh. The Communion Reflection was delivered by Mary’s grand-daughter Maria – a poem entitled ‘Nan.’ A fitting eulogy was recited by Mary’s grand-daughter Mary. Beautiful hymns were provided by Ballinroad Choir of which Mary was a member. As Mary’s casket was leaving the Church, Mary’s sister Vera Noonan sang ‘The Old Bog Road,’ a song of importance in the lives of the O’Brien siblings, as it was the song their mother was singing the night she became ill and sadly passed away five days later. The chief mourners were Mary’s sons Thomas, John, Michael, Kevin (Smurf) and Martin and daughters Maura and Tina; daughtersin-law Helen, Carole, Deirdre and Imelda and son-in-law Timmy Kavanagh; grandchildren and great grandchildren; brother Michael O’Brien (Middlesex); sisters Johanna La Bonte (Florida), Theresa Keane (Colligan), Catherine Morrison (Fermoy) and Vera Noonan (Fermoy); brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. Month’s Mind Mass for Mary will be celebrated on Sunday, 23rd April, 2017, at 10.00 a.m. in St. Laurence’s Church, Ballinroad. (Funeral arrangements were by Tom Drohan, Funeral Directors, Dungarvan).
DR. THOMAS NOEL BARRY Walsall, West Midlands, and formerly of Ballyharahan, Ring, Dungarvan We record with sadness and regret the passing of Dr. Thomas Noel Barry on Friday, 31st March. He was born on 19th December, 1928, to Patrick and Mary Barry in Garranbane. During his childhood the family lived in Garranbane and Cushcam before acquiring a farm at Ballyharahan, Ring, Dungarvan. Thomas is pre-deceased by his wife Alice, brothers Willie, Timmy, Dick and Paddy, and his sister Maureen Fives. He is survived by his sisters Kitty Denn, Roisin Dunphy and Una Drennan. Thomas attended Garranbane NS and Dungarvan CBS, and after leaving the CBS he studied Medicine at UCC. He qualified from UCC in 1953 and after completing an internship in Philadelphia (1954-5) worked in Limerick Hospital until 1957 when he moved to the UK, spending time in Bolton and Birmingham before moving into General Practice in Walsall where he set up home in the early 1960s. Before moving to England,Thomas was well known as a footballer and hurler with the Brickey Rangers, playing in a number of County Finals from 1946 until 1962 when he retired as a player. He represented Waterford at minor and senior in both football and hurling and won two Sigerson Cups with UCC. As well as playing for the Brickeys, he hurled with Tourin in 1951 and Abbeyside in 1955, reaching another county final. After retiring as a GP in the 1990s, Thomas was a regular visitor to Waterford and Dungarvan and followed the Waterford hurlers whenever possible. The above photo was taken before Thomas played for Waterford v. Kerry in Tralee in 1952. He will be sorely missed by his sons Patrick, Thomas (Jr.) and Declan. Funeral obsequies will take place in St. Laurence’s Church, Ballinroad, on a date to be announced. (Funeral arrangements by James Kiely & Sons, Funeral Directors, Dungarvan).
MARGARET (Peggy) DELANEY (nee O’Neill) London and formerly of Boreenatra, Dungarvan Deep feelings of sadness and regret were evoked with the passing of Peggy Delaney in London on Monday, 20th March.We express our sincere sympathy and condolences to Peggy’s family, relatives and friends. Requiem Mass for Peggy was celebrated on Monday, 3rd April, in Our Lady of Willesden Church, Harlesden, London. Peggy lay in repose at the Kiely Funeral Home, Dungarvan, on Tuesday, 4th April, and where in the presence of her loving family, relatives and friends the Rosary was recited. Removal will take place on Wednesday, 5th April, at 10.15 a.m. to St. Mary’s Parish Church, Dungarvan, for Requiem Mass at 11.00 a.m. and afterwards Peggy will be laid to rest in St. Mary’s Old Churchyard. I líonta Dé go gcastar sinn le chéile. (Funeral arrangements by James Kiely & Sons, Funeral Directors, Dungarvan).
Dungarvan Observer | Friday, 7 April, 2017
CATHERINE KEOGH Ardsallagh, Youghal, Co. Waterford 1922 – 2017 It is with deep sadness we record the peaceful passing, in the caring hands of the staff at Youghal Community Hospital, on March 7th, 2017, of Catherine [Katie] Keogh [nee Murray], late of Ardsallagh, via Youghal, Co. Waterford. Daughter of Maurice and Bridget Murray, Catherine was born in 1922, she and her sister Mary grew up in Knockanore. She attended Knockanore National School and in her early working years went to work as a Nurse’s Aid in London during the Second World War. Upon returning home, Catherine worked at the Atlantic Hotel,Youghal, and it was while working there, she met her late husband Patrick.Together they worked hard on the family farm and raised a family of three sons Maurice, Patrick and Tommy and two daughters Mary and Helen. Catherine’s husband Patrick was a dedicated fisherman and Catherine was always at her best rolling up her sleeves and preparing the beautiful fresh fish which he caught. It was very rare to find Catherine sitting down having a well-deserved rest – being so active was one of the many reasons she lived such a long, happy and healthy life. Reposing at Egan’s Funeral Home, Greencloyne, Youghal. Catherine’s Rosary and removal took place on the evening of March 8th, 2017, to St. Bartholomew’s Church, Piltown. Requiem Mass for Catherine was celebrated on Thursday, March 9th, by Fr. Milo Guiry, P.P., and members of her family officiated in the ceremony.The eulogy was read by her grand-daughter Marie, the first and second readings were recited by her grand-daughter Eleanor and grandnephew Shane. Grand-daughters Caroline, Ann and Michelle and grandsons Joseph and Thomas and great grand-daughter Aisling recited Prayers of the Faithful. Her daughters Mary and Helen presented the bread and wine for the Offertory at the Altar. Symbols representing the things she loved most in life were presented by her sons Maurice and Tommy, her niece Margaret and her grand-daughters Patricia and Gillian. Following the celebration for Mass, Catherine was then laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery. Catherine is so dearly missed by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, her niece, grandnephews, sons-in-law, daughters-inlaw, neighbours and friends, to all of whom we extend our deepest sympathy. May she rest in peace. Month’s Mind Mass for Catherine will be celebrated on Easter Saturday night, April 15th, in St. Bartholomew’s Church, Piltown. (Funeral arrangements were by Egan’s Funeral Home,Youghal).
Just think of it! THE Incarnation is a stupendous mystery. This doesn’t mean that it’s not true, but it’s beyond our comprehension, we can’t get our minds around it, we can’t grasp it with our minds in the way that we grasp that there are thirty two counties in Ireland. Isn’t it astounding to think that the all-powerful, infinitely wise and eternal God became a human being in the womb of a young woman in the north of Palestine. And when this wonderful God became man he wasn’t pretending to be a man: Jesus the son of Mary had a divine nature and a human nature in their entirety, both were fully present in the one Person. Because Jesus was fully human he was willing to share the experiences and the limitations that are part of any human life. When he wanted to get from Nazareth to Jerusalem, for instance, he didn’t suddenly sprout winds to fly there, nor did he summon angels to carry him: he walked. And like any other man or woman, when he had to make a journey in the heat of the day he got tired, and was glad to take a rest at the side of a village well in Samaria. He was thirsty too, but he didn’t work a miracle to get himself a drink: no, he asked a Samaritan woman for a drink, and because she was an argumentative lady he had to wait quite some time before she got around to giving him a drink. When, in his early thirties, in the prime of his years he realised in the garden of Gethsemane that his enemies were closing in around him and that the prospect of his impending death was becoming more real, it reduced him to an agony, just as it would with any of us. Jesus the Lord is no plaster figure, nor is he a superman who always comes out on top. Because he loves us, this God-man experienced life in this world, and by so doing gave a special value to all the good events in our lives. Fr. Robert Arthure, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford.