'Goodbye My Old Friend’ : Cavan and Longford bids poignant farewell to much loved Jimmy Joe

There was disbelief and sadness in the region on Tuesday, June 6 last when it became known that one of Mullahoran's characters had passed away suddenly.

Jimmy Joe (James Joseph) O’Reilly, Mullahoran Upper, had celebrated his 90th birthday on Monday and was the life and soul of a family celebration on Sunday in his honour, singing and reciting as was his way.

In everyday life in the parish Jimmy Joe was always out and about, either in the local shop or outside the church he had a smile and a hearty greeting with a bit of witty banter thrown in, or a cheery wave as he drove along with Wendy by his side.

In his early days Jimmy Joe emigrated to England where he worked in Northampton and later Coventry as a bus driver and it was there he met his future wife, an English lass Wendy, who also worked on the buses as a conductor and some years later they returned home and raised their family of five.

Jimmy Joe then started driving for Roadstone, a job he held for many years and which he thoroughly enjoyed, out and about meeting people and making friends. He liked to socialise and have a pint in Glan or Sheridans, often relating events of his early days at home or in England.

He was a keen supporter of the Dreadnoughts having played in his early days and when his boys were involved he was always available to help out. He also loved music and dancing and was part of the Mullahoran Set Dancers where he could step it with the best.

He also took part in local drama productions where he would have the audience in stitches, never keeping to the script.

Jimmy Joe was a member of the Rath Mhuire Men’s Shed in Granard and here again he was in his element in the jovial atmosphere which suited him and his colleagues which included the famed Mick Flavin and indeed it was fitting that Mick sang 'Goodbye My Old Friend’ at his funeral.

There is no doubt Jimmy Joe and his merry ways will be greatly missed in the parish.

Jimmy Joe is deeply regretted and sadly missed by his beloved wife of 57 years Wendy (nee Sibley), his children, Angela Mullooly (Lanesboro), Colette (Cavan), Eamon (Reading, U.K.), Seamus (Celbridge) and Fiona (Celbridge), daughter-in-law Lisa, son-in-law Ciaran, Seamus' partner Niamh and Fiona's partner Adrian, his adored grandchildren Ashleigh, Bryan, Olivia, James and Eoghan, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and his many friends.

His remains reposed at Reilly's Funeral Home, Kilcogy, on Thursday evening, June 8 and removal was from his home on Friday morning, June 9 for Requiem Funeral Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Mullahoran, followed by cremation at Lakelands Crematorium, Cavan. May his gentle soul rest in peace.