Limerick man Sean, aged 102, will be making sliothars in the sky

THE LATE Sean O'Connell, of Newcastle West, will be making sliothars in the sky following his passing at the wonderful age of 102. 

Mr O'Connell started working with his father John in the family harness making business on Maiden Street in the town at the age of 16. That was his life for the next 45 odd years. 

Practically every pupil in Newcastle West and surrounding parishes had a school bag made by him. O’Connell’s sliothars too were pucked across west Limerick.

"They were all made behind the counter in Maiden Street," he told the Limerick Leader on the occasion of his 100th birthday in June 2020. When Mr O'Connell saw that business was diminishing he changed career at the ripe old age of 62 and went to work at Aughinish Alumina.

He was as good at making sliothars as he was at striking them as he won a county minor medal with Newcastle West in 1937. However, he had to give it up as his hands were crucial to his livelihood.

On the morning of his 100th birthday Mr O’Connell was out at 7am sweeping the yard for a socially distanced gathering. He still drove a car and had only every been in hospital twice.

He gave up drink and cigarettes before he married his beloved wife Chris, who passed away only last November. They had 60 happy years together and will only have been apart for a matter of weeks.

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Mr O'Connell is predeceased by his loving wife Chris, sisters Mary and Sr Ita, brothers Jim, Billy and Br Paddy. Deeply regretted by his loving brother Dan and Dan’s wife Noreen, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and his many friends.

Reposing at Riedy’s Funeral Home on Friday, January 13 from 6pm until 7.30pm. Arriving at The Church Of The Immaculate Conception, Newcastle West at 8pm. Requiem Mass is on Saturday morning 14th January at 11.30am. Burial afterwards in Churchtown Cemetery, Newcastle West.

May He Rest In Peace