Munster Express Online

People from all walks of life in the town and surrounding areas turned out to say farewell on Monday of last week to Joseph “Cuckoo’’ Woods, formerly of Dr, Caseyville, who died in St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, after a comparatively brief illness.

Kilkenny had been his home for a long number of years following his marriage to his wife Josephine. Aged sixty nine, Joseph was known to everyone during his time in Dungarvan as “Cuckoo’’, a nickname most probably attributed to him because of his close involvement with the Dungarvan Pigeon Club.

Son of the late Paddy and Bridget Woods, “Cuckoo’’ hailed from a great sporting family that was renowned for the prowess of many of the boys, including Cuckoo himself-as amateur boxers. He was also a very fine hurler and hand-baller in his day, but it was the pigeon racing to which he was probably closest attached.

Although the Marble City had been his home for forty or more years, he remained a true blue Dungarvanite to the very end, and it was his wish that St. Mary’s Parish cemetery would be his final resting place. That wish was seen through to fulfilment on Monday of last week when following the funeral Mass celebrated by Fr. Cooney OSA “Cuckoo’’ was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.

The Church was packed to capacity for the Mass and the graveside attendance said all that needed to be said about the popularity of the deceased. His coffin was draped in the blue and white of Dungarvan GAA club and indeed of Waterford while members of the Dungarvan Pigeon Club provided a guard of honour as the coffin was taken on its short but final journey.

Another wonderful tribute at the graveside was the releasing of dozens of pigeons by way of a final and very fitting salute to the great “Cuckoo’’. He is survived by his wife Josephine, his sons Joseph and Kevin, his daughter Bridget, his brothers John, Michael, Mattie, Francis and Dinny, his sisters Nellie, Mai, Nora, and Bridget, and a huge circle of other relatives to all of  whom we extend heartfelt sympathy of “Cuckoo’s’’ untimely death.