Local Notes: Funeral takes place of local GAA stalwart, meeting for parents and hurling news
The late Dick Donnolly
The death took place unexpectedly on Wednesday, September 4, of Dick Donnelly (89), Post Office Square, Passage East. His remains reposed in Hennessy's Funeral Home, Johnstown, Waterford, on Friday, September 6, and removal took place to Crooke Church on Saturday morning September 7, for funeral Mass in Crooke Church.
His funeral cortege came through his native Passage to the echo of the Village Bell, then passed his residence and stopping at it for a few moments. Then at the Passage School in Crooke, the hearse stopped and a large Guard of Honour was provided by Passage Hurling Club Officers and players who escorted his remains to Crooke Church for his Requiem Mass. Before Mass began his first cousin Fintan Walsh at the request of his family, also a member of Passage Hurling Club since 1964, gave the Eulogy covering Dick's life.
He covered his working life, at first in the Waterford Metal Industries from the mid 1950's to the mid 1970's, and then in Tech Industries in 1978, until he retired. He also pointed out he was a founding member of Gaultier Credit Union and gave years of great service to the Gaultier Community including Dunmore, Passage and Cheekpoint and their surrounding areas along with quite a few others, some of whom are no longer with us.
He also was one of the directors for a time along with his late brother John, who died just two months before him, and his nephew Richard Rowe was a director also. All his life Dick lived life daily to a strict routine himself, as did his late brother John and his sister Maisie also, as they lived together. On his retirement he could be seen walking around the roads around Crooke and over to Knockroe, back over to the Waterford road, back to Passage again and latterly over the Strand in Passage.
He is however best remembered through his major lifetime input into the Passage Hurling Club as a player and official.
On July 4, 1960 a challenge match took place in Geneva Barrack's between Passage and a Faithlegg /Cheekpoint selection. Dick was on the Passage selection which was the forerunner to the club being reformed in the area.
When that club was reformed in the area on July 14, 1960, he was a founder member. It was named Suir Rovers at first but then reverted to Passage Hurling Club a few years later, the one we have today. He was its first Secretary at the time and along with being Secretary, he was a fine player with the club and was noted for his quick reaction and in many newspaper cuttings during the sixties, he was nearly always mentioned among the best Passage players in games.
He remained Secretary until the early 1970's and then took over the job as Treasurer. He held that role until 2009 becoming one of the longest club treasurers in the entire country. He then took over as Assistant Treasurer until quite recently, when the club's monthly draw was his big job each month.
He was the most competent official any organisation could have and his hallmark was his honesty in accounting for every penny taken in and paid out and his straight talking approach to anything dealing with club finances. He was respected by all in the club. He was very well known in GAA circles in County Waterford for decades. In so many ways Dick gave great service to his community for much of his life and which in the main was done in a very non-public way, simply because he loved doing it.
His Requiem Mass was celebrated by Rev Fr Brian Power PP, Kilsheelan, who was a former PP in Crooke, Killea and Faithlegg. Fr Power was also well-known to Dick and the hymns were sung by Crooke Church Choir with Paudie Creedon on the Organ. The readings were given by his grand nieces and nephews. The first and second readings by Sophie Rowe and David Twomey and the Prayers of the Faithful by Katie Rowe, April Roche and Eimear Mellor. In his homily, Fr Power spoke of Dick's great traits and his deep faith all his life, describing him as a wonderful person for his community.
After Mass his remains went to Crooke Cemetery for burial, again escorted by a Passage Hurling Club Guard of Honour, passing the club grounds in Crooke where flags flew at half mast in his memory. The final prayers were said by Rev Fr Power PP, assisted by Rev Fr PJ Breen PP, Crooke, Killea, and presently Faithlegg. Finally, Fintan Walsh, at the request of the family, sang the 'Croppy Boy', a ballad synonymous with the Passage East/Crooke /Geneva Barracks area. Dick is survived by his sister Maisie, nieces and nephews and extended families to whom sympathy is extended. Ar dheis dé go raibh a anam dílis.
The death took place on September 6t, of Mr Tony Kinsella, Cullinagh, Kilmeaden and formerly of Faithlegg. His funeral mass was in St Patrick's Church, Portlaw, on Monday, September 7, with burial in the adjoining cemetery. He is survived by his sons Michael, Tommy and John and their families along with extended families and neighbours in Kilmeaden.
The death took place on Sunday September 8, at Waterford Nursing Home, Dunmore Road, of Richard (Dick) Flynn, St John’s Park, Waterford and formerly of Faithlegg, late of CIE. His burial took place in St Mary's Cemetery, Ballygunner on Tuesday last. He is survived by his his wife Teresa and family, and extended family. Sympathy is extended to both families from all in their native Faithlegg area.
Mass Times in Crooke and Faithlegg Churches are: Wednesday, September 18 - Faithlegg at 11.30 am; Thursday, September 19 - Crooke at 10am; Saturday, September 21 - Faithlegg at 6.30 pm; Sunday Vigil and Bicentenary Celebration, September 22 - Crooke at 11.30am.
A meeting for parents of children in our schools who will be receiving First Holy Communion and Confirmation this year will take place at 7.30pm as follows: Tuesday, September 17 - Faithlegg and Passage East National Schools in Faithlegg Church.
There was disappointment for Passage U15 hurlers in the semi-final of their cup last Tuesday evening, being beaten in a low scoring game by Brickey Rangers 1-7 to 7 points. After having a terrific season it's well done to the entire panel and mentors. The U13 team meet Stradbally in their final in WIT Arena on Thursday, September 19, at 7.45pm. Best of luck to all. Recently in the Aylward Cup tournament in Ballyhale our U10 team did very well.
They beat John Locke's of Callan, Ballyhogue GAA, Wexford, Ballyhale and Thomastown in the semi-final. Unfortunately the boys were defeated by Emeralds Urlingford in the final but some fantastic displays against competitive teams all through.
An early reminder of the club's Quiz Night in 'The Saratoga', on October 19 and the annual €5, 50/50, Split the Pot envelopes for sale Ben Power's Shop, Cheekpoint, The Estuary Café, Passage East, Saratoga Bar, Woodstown, Willow Hair Boutique, the Glen, Waterford and Furlong's New Geneva, Passage East. All proceeds go towards the ever expanding juveniles section of the club who've been super representing the club all year competing and travelling all over the county and country.
