Mrs Margaret Kealy

Mrs Margaret Kealy, Newport and Mountbellew. The peaceful death occurred on May 30 following a short illness, courageously borne, of Mrs Margaret Kealy, Castlebar St Newport and Mountbellew, Co Galway. After reposing at the Franciscan Oratory Mountbellew on Monday, June 2, from 2pm to 4pm, her remains were brought to St Patrick’s Church, Newport, and were received by Canon Eamon Concannon, PP. Also present was Dr Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam.

Mass for the repose of her soul was concelebrated on Tuesday morning at 11am. Canon Concannon was chief celebrant, and he was assisted by Canon Paraic O’Connor, Monsignor Thomas Shannon, Canon Attie Devine, Fr Paddy Costello and Canon Tadgh Moran. During the celebration of Mass, Newport Church Choir sang hymns suitable to the occasion including one of Margaret’s favourites ‘On Eagles Wings’, which was sung as the Responsorial Psalm by Miriam Chambers Fadden.

The Readings were read by Margaret’s daughters Alacoque and Regina, and Prayers of the Faithful were read by Micheál Tobin, Castlebar, her nephew; Eva Tobin, Galway, her niece; and her two grand-daughters, Cliona and Petra Tobin, Dublin. The Offertory Gifts were brought to the altar by her son, Michael, and his wife, Joy.

During his homily, Canon Eamon spoke of Margaret saying “she was blessed with wit and words, and clarity of mind to the end.” He gave a brief account of her life here in Newport, describing how for the past four years, she, together with her sister, Lil, had taken care of their brother, Monsignor Micheál Tobin, in Mountbellew until his death. He said “Margaret Kealy was a person of faith. Even when it was difficult for her, she made her way to the front of the church to attend Mass; she was not a complainer; she spoke with pride about her family and with praise for her wonderful neighbours; her children will have nice memories and grateful feelings of her motherly influence.” He continued by saying: “Life is changed, not ended, as there is no ending to the life of a faithful Christian; this wonderful prospect came about through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – I am the Resurrection and the Life; If anyone believes in me even though he dies, he will live forever.”

At the end of Mass, her son, Michael, addressed the congregation on behalf of Margaret’s family. He thanked Archbishop Michael Neary for attending on the previous evening and each of the priests present for their attendance and kindness over many years. He also thanked the choir, Mass servers and all who attended on either or both days, phoned or sent condolences. Michael then thanked and publicly acknowledged the wonderful neighbours on Castlebar St for “their outstanding displays of kindness given so freely over many years to my mother-we can never repay them for all their nameless, unremembered, acts of kindness and of love.” He also thanked “the many friends who helped or visited my mother down through the years, including Dr Brian Lennon and his nurses and staff, and Michael and staff at Newport Pharmacy.”

Michael then recapped on his mother’s life. “Margaret Kealy was born in 1916 in Drumcondra, Dublin, to Brigid (Bea) nee Malone from Westport and Michael Tobin from Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. She was the eldest of five, and when her father died, they returned to the West, where her mother took up the position of postmistress in 1931 in the Newport Post Office…

“She was a dedicated mother and a teacher, her teaching career spanned from the 30’s to the 80’s interrupted only by the marriage ban and by the birth of three children, Alacoque, Michael and Regina.

“In 1936, she began teaching in Skirdagh with Jimmy Deffely as principal. She taught in Carraholly School with Mrs Staunton from 1939 to 1942 before moving to the Boys Newport NS, where she taught for five happy years with the Master Tommy Kelly. In 1947, she married the local Garda Sergeant Paddy Kealy (our father), but due to the marriage ban, she then had to give up teaching. With the lifting of the ban, she once again returned to the Boys NS as a substitute teach for Bridie Kilroy, before moving to the Quay School in Westport to work with the principal, Mrs Flatley. Her final teaching post was the Christian Brothers Primary School Westport, and she became either the first or second female VP in a Christian Brothers School in Ireland. She continued to teach there until retirement in 1962. She always had a great affinity with her pupils, taking great pride in their achievements great or small, whether they were star pupils or not, and she loved when former pupils that she did not even recognise approached her  to say how much they appreciated the time they spent with her as their teacher.

“Margaret like her husband Paddy was a keen gardener, she loved flowers, and he looked after the vegetables. She, along with her sister, Lil, loved to cook, and did all sorts of handcrafts, and the Agricultural Show in Newport was the high point, as they competed with neighbours and friends and with each other, hoping to win the coveted cup of their section, which were often won and were as good as any Sam Maguire coming to the house.

“Margaret was an extraordinary woman for her 91 years, intelligent, sharp, interested in people, courageous and independent-minded to the end. To us, her family, she was more than a mother or a grandmother. Her two grandchildren, Ciara and Petra, were her pride and joy. She was always an example, a teacher, an occasional critic and a great friend. She left us a wonderful legacy, in that during the past three years, she wrote a detailed account of her life’s memories, the last words of which concerned a meeting on the street in Newport with a man she taught many years ago who told her that she was the first person who was interested in teaching him to read and how he attributes the great pleasure he gets from reading books to her. She wrote:  ‘It made me feel good to know that there was one boy who felt I had helped him to achieve something which would benefit him for life. If we can make a difference, even in a small way, then we haven’t lived in vain’ – She did not live in vain.”

Margaret Kealy, who was laid to rest in Burrishoole Cemetery, was predeceased by her husband, Sergeant Patrick Kealy, a fair and honest man who was held in high esteem in Newport; by her brothers, Pat, Galway; Dr Seán, Castlebar; and Monsignor Micheál, Montbellew. She is survived by her son, Michael; daughters, Alacoque and Regina; sister, Lil; grand-children, Cliona and Petra; daughter-in-law, Joy; sister-in-law; nieces, nephews, many relations neighbours and friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.