Obituary: Waterford city's Jack Morrissey 1935 - 2025

On Saturday, April 26 , Jack Morrissey, late of O’Reilly Road, Cork Road, Waterford city, sadly passed away peacefully in the Oak Ward, UHW. He is survived by his wife Pat, son Brian, daughters Siobhán and Jacqui (Jai) and grandchildren Luke, Emma and Brónagh, his brother Paul and sisters, Rose and Pat.

Following a serious fall last year and a long stay in hospital, Jack had recently resided in Grange Ward, WRCC, where he proved to be as popular as ever.

Born in December 1935, Jack witnessed many changes in the city over the years. Growing up as one of 13, the Morrissey family lived on the Waterside, then Blake’s Lane, before settling down on Hennessy’s Road, where he was an active member of the neighbourhood, forming one of the first Skiffle bands in town, organising concerts and hurling or soccer matches for his siblings and friends’ entertainment.

He channelled his love of soccer into “training” his youngest brother Paul who went on to win six League of Ireland championship titles.

Although many of his older siblings emigrated or went to sea, Jack was happiest in Waterford, and believed the only good reason “to cross the bridge” was to see Portláirge or The Blues’ away games.

This love of Waterford, sports and music never left him and continued to be a huge part of his life. Like almost everyone of his generation, the Olympia was a popular social hotspot and his love of dancing continued throughout his life, jiving the night away with Pat at the Glass Factory Centre, or later in life in the Wander Inn.

Jack and Pat married in 1965, but he didn’t move far, raising his own family on O’Reilly Road, Cork Road, where his home was open to friends and numerous cousins who loved his sense of fun.

In 1952 Jack began his 65-year working career. He started in Kelly’s Garage before setting up his own panel beating, spraying and repairs garage in Alexander Street. He loved it there, and is still remembered for his easy generosity and kindness - as well as an uncanny knack for predicting whether an expectant mother would have a boy or a girl.

A well-known figure around the town, he enjoyed meeting the many others working in the city centre, and loved being part of the neighbourhood. There are many stories of his small acts of kindness mentioned in the condolence messages posted online.

Whether it was rescuing cars out of ditches in the middle of the night, lending a hand or a hammer, whatever the occasion called for, or keeping a car running beyond any reasonable expectations. He did it all quietly and without fuss, and touched many lives in his own understated way. When his premises in Alexander Street was CPO’d in the early 1990s, he was forced to move, and relocated to Johnstown where he was based until he finally retired, just one week shy of his 83rd birthday.

Following the death of his eldest son, Evan in 1996, he worked through his loss, surrounding himself with people and community. He was a member of musical societies and choirs and threw himself into activity, always busy and in demand. Jack was proud to be part of the Williamstown Golf Club founding committee, and this led to many achievements and became his second career. A founding member, the first to be Club Captain more than once; in 2003, 2006, 2008, he was also Club President in 2004, and the first to receive honorary member status. Even when not in “office”, nothing took precedence over ‘The Draw’, which he managed with precision, and when he stepped down from his duties he could only be replaced by a computer!

On Thursday, May 1, members of Williamstown Golf Club formed a guard of honour at St John’s Church to pay tribute to Jack. If he wasn’t swinging a club, Jack loved to sing, and was a member of the choir in Sacred Heart Church, The Folly. Here he made firm friends, in particular Fr Chestnutt, who recalls Jack’s sense of fun and the glint in his eye.

Known as a lovely singer since the Skiffle band days of his youth, Jack had always been in demand in the thriving ‘Singing Pubs’ competitions, so popular in Waterford and had a loyal following of summer holidaymakers in The Ritz, Tramore.

As these events dwindled, he joined De La Salle Musical Society, and delighted in meeting wonderful people of all ages, and talents. He looked forward each year to taking part in the shows.

Once Jack made friends, he stayed friends, and he would have been quietly honoured to know that Fr Chestnutt and singer David Flynn, both friends from those days, took part in his funeral Mass.

As the service unfolded, it became clear that the eulogy poem read by Siobhán, the warm tribute paid by his Williamstown co-founder and friend, Barry Maloney, Fr Chestnutt’s fond and humorous recollections, all interwoven with music sung by David with a gentle emotion, were a true reflection of Jack himself - no fuss, full of humour, and genuine.

Always kind, and quick to smile, we have lost not only a husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend but one of Waterford’s gentle gentlemen. May he Rest in Peace.