Munster Express Online

It is with regret that we record the recent death of Mr John ‘Johnny’ Maher, Milltown, Kilmacow, County Kilkenny. In his 88th year, Mr Maher passed away at the residence of his daughter, ‘Villa Maria’, Curluddy, Carrigeen, Mooncoin on Saturday June 13th following a short illness.

His wake was held in Carrigeen and his remains were taken to St. Senan’s Church, Kilmacow where they were received by Rev Canon Brian Flynn and Fr Raymond Dempsey. The traditional Service was enriched by the singing of Mr Frank Madigan in Irish and English and ended with the beautiful Salvia Regina in Latin. The accompanist was Mr John O Callaghan, organist and choir master.

The funeral cortege was supported at the Sports Complex by a Guard of Honour drawn from units of the Fianna Fail Party and was flanked by MEP Liam Aylward and Deputy Bobby Aylward as well as many Councillors and Ard Comhairle members.

His Concelebrated Requiem Mass was celebrated by Fr Raymond Dempsey (relative of the deceased) assisted by Fr Tom O’ Toole, Rev Canon Brian Flynn, PP, Fr Gerry Condon, PP, Bonmahon, Co Waterford and Fr Eamon O Gorman, Mooncoin. Also present was Fr Liam Barron, PP, Mullinavat. Bernadette Kelly, soloist and choir master at St Beacon’s Parish Church, Mullinavat, sang a selection of hymns with a majestic rendering of Panis Angelicas, again accompanied by Mr. John O’ Callaghan.

At the Offertory during the celebration of the Requiem Mass, Michael Power, a friend of the deceased, played a beautiful Irish slow air on accordion. The Readings and Prayers of the Faithful were recited by his grandchildren. His only son, Sean, paid a short tribute to his late father centered on his life which had been enriched by great health, an abiding interest in community life, politics, and gardening. He was also a deeply religious man who attended Mass every Sunday. In former years, he had been a Prefect of the Confraternity which he held steadfast to the end.

John was predeceased by his wife Josephine (Josie) Maher fourteen years ago in 1995. he is survived by his son Sean, Mullinavat; his daughters Miriam, Carrigeen, and Joan, Bonmahon, Co Waterford; his grandchildren, Catriona, Eoin, Claire, John, Ann and Emma; his great-grandchild, Emma Louise Cleary; his nephews, Timothy, John, Paddy, Thomas and Gerard; his niece, Mary, all Dublin city and county. His daughter-in-law, Marion Maher; sons-in-law, Tom Purcell and Jerry Wall; brother-in-law, Tommy Walsh; nieces-in-law, Maura, Mavis and Terry; many relations, relatives, friends and neighbours.

 

Distinguished attendance

The attendance on both days reflected the esteem in which John Maher was held in the community. The Chairman of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Thomas Breathnach, was present as was his brother the former Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Jack Walsh. Councillors Cora Long, Eamon Aylward, Fidelis Doherty and Pat Dunphy were among the large attendance as was the Production Director of Waterford Crystal (in receivership) Mr Dermot Barlow; the managing director and editor of The Munster Express, Mr Kieran Walsh; the regional organiser of Unite, Mr Walter Cullen. The former Chairman of Kilkenny County Council, Mr Andy Cottrell were also in attendance as was Mr Senan Cooke, DCU Lecturer and former Kilkenny and Kilmacow hurler and friend of the deceased; Cllr John O Leary, Waterford County Council; Mr John Colbert, former senior management personnel together with former colleagues of the deceased from CIE, Waterford Station; the directors and their families of South East Construction and Mallwood Ltd.

Also present were the Sr Philippa and the Sisters from the Sacred Heart of Mary Convent, Ferrybank. Mr Sean O Brien (President) and Mr John Treacy (Senior Director) of St Dominic’s Credit Union, Waterford, also paid their respects at the obsequies. They joined representatives from the local sporting, farming, business asd social organisations in the greater South Kilkenny area as well as members and representatives of Waterford Corporation, Eigse Sliabh Rua, RNLI Waterford and IWA Radio Kilkenny.

 

Fourth generation

John was the fourth generation of the Maher family in Kilmacow. His father was Jack Maher, hailing from Grannagh Knock, who played hurling and football for Kilmacow and Mooncoin and also represented Kilkenny at football reaching the All Ireland semi final in 1901.

The deceased’s mother was Ellen Maher (nee Curtis) who had come from Kilsheelan, on the Waterford side of the Tipperary village. She had moved with the De La Poer family, also from that area, to Kilcronagh House in Greenville where she worked for Raymond De la Poer and his English-born heiress wife, Emily Frances Lloyd.

John Maher and his late sister, Mary, (who resided on Herberton Rd, Rialto, Dublin after her marriage to John Lyne who was a native of Valencia Island, Co. Kerry) were born in Tinlough, Kilmacow to their parents, Jack and Ellen Maher.

Johnny (or ‘Gags’ as he was affectionately known) commenced a working life in CIE in 1940. His subsequent employment in the company, following his father’s death, lasted 47 years and so a ‘roller coaster’ love affair with trains began. He drove steam and diesel trains as part of his working tenure and ended his working life as an inspector in charge of the locomotive section with the late former Mayor of Waterford, Dr. Tom Brennan. Johnny’s interests and ideals caused him to become much involved in the Union and Social club activities in CIE for many years and his placements took him to CIE’s Inchicore complex in Dublin as well as at Limerick for a period of time.

Johnny Maher had a great and active life, never wasting a moment or opportunity to attend to something he cared or lived for. He married Josephine Walsh of Gaulsmills, Dunkitt, Kilmacow, in 1950 in the Presentation Convent Chapel. This location for the marriage ceremony was due to the fact that parish Church had been damaged by a fire and a renovation and re-roofing of the Church was in progress at that time. Johnny and Josie had three children, Sean, Miriam and Joan.

Involved in parish life

Johnny was much involved in parish life and took a keen interest in the Muintir na Tire rural organisation, taking part in their garden competitions and also in their parish shows which spanned the best part of 20 years from the 1960s to the 1980s. He had a great and lasting interest in gardening, ranging from vegetables and flowers although his favourite of all flowers were roses which he grew and ‘showed’ in competition. He entered, with success, many garden competitions organised by Board Failte. In recent years he became an active member of the Lower Kilmacow Development Group and worked on many projects in the area. He loved to see this type of community spirit and the group was most kind to him and made him feel vital to their work.

He was also part of a group of parishioners who worked on the building of the Grotto in Dunkitt to the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the 1960s. The sole remaining colleague from this group now is Ed Barron, PC, Milltown.

In 1942, in Dalton’s of Dunkitt, Johnny Maher became a member of the Fianna Fail Party later attending many attending Ard Fheisanna. He canvassed for the party and did polling station work at elections. He represented the party at their National Church Gate collections, a task he continued to do up to recent times.

He also loved dancing and music and, up to a few months ago, he continued to dance in venues like the Clover Meats centre, Piltown and Crotty’s of Leamybrien.

His life was that of activity and he was blessed with great health up to the last few months of his life. He loved life in all its form. He loved the birds that came to his feeding stations, the fish that swam in his pond which he fondly built with aided assistance from his good friend Billy Drennan. Johnny loved his few drinks with family and friends and visits to places such as Dunmore East and other seaside locations in the South East. He very much enjoyed observing the trawlers with their contrasting colours and designs.

Month’s Mind Mass

John ‘Johnny’ Maher, born 13th February 1922 in Tinlough, Kilmacow, died in the loving company of his family on the 13th June, 2009. The Month’s Mind Mass for the deceased will be celebrated in St Senan’s Church, Kilmacow, on Friday evening, 17th July. Ar Dheis De Go Raibh a h-anam dilis.