Chris O'Leary

Mr Chris O’Leary, Glen, Clare Island, who has died, was skipper of the island ferry for almost a quarter of a century.

He died at his residence, in the company of family and friends, following a short illness. He was aged 72 years and was husband of the late Nora (nee Cannon). He was also predeceased by his sister, Kathleen Legge.

Chris was a member of the island farming community and farmed his own small holding with great husbandry. In his time as skipper of the island ferry, he brought islanders and thousands of visitors to Clare Island and Inishturk. He never missed an opportunity to extol the many attractions of both islands and was regarded by many as Mr Ambassador for both Clare and ’Turk.

In later years, he fished the waters surrounding the islands and went to work on the fish farm off the island, taking great pride in the international reputation that the farm gained for its products.

Chris is deeply mourned by his sons, Humphrey, Brendan, Christy, Patrick, Denis and Andrew; daughters, Mary Moran, Noreen Pender and Eileen; brother Denis (USA); sisters, Nora Fitzgerald and Eileen West (England) and Maureen (Clare Island); son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, sisters-in-law, cousins and many friends.

When Chris’s removal took place from his residence to the Sacred Heart Church on the island, a guard of honour by Inishturk residents marked the arrival. Fr MicheΡl Mannion officiated at the reception ceremony, and the large attendance at the removal and funeral included representatives from the islands of Aran, Inishbofin, Inishturk and Achill, as well as from Louisburgh and Westport and places further afield, all paying tribute to the doughty seafarer they had come to know and love over the years.

Family members read the lessons and prayers of the faithful and brought the offertory gifts to the altar at Chris’s Funeral Mass. The concelebrants were Fr MicheΡl Mannion and Fr Peter Gannon (Claremorris).

In his homily, Fr Mannion paid tribute to Chris for his many Christian qualities. He told of the many times Chris had ferried doctors and priests to the island in difficult weather conditions to attend to the needs of the sick and the dying.

He said he was always a good husband and father and left no stone unturned to provide for his family. “Today we also remember his two best friends, Pat McNamara and Michael Barrett, who regularly held court with him in the community centre.”

Chris was laid to rest in the island cemetery.

Peaceful rest to his noble soul.