Nancy Carragher

Mrs Nancy Carragher, Grange, Corrandulla, County Galway, who has died at University College Hospital, Galway, following a long illness, courageously borne, was formerly Nancy O’Toole,  a native of Inishturk. She was aged 66 years.

Nancy will be sadly missed by her husband Bernard, son Vincent and his partner Ann (Newtown, Killaloe, County Clare), brothers Joe (Carrawbawn, Westport), Larry (Birmingham), John (Inishturk), and Tim (Donegal), sisters Bridget (Scotland), Marie (London), Phil (Southampton), Margaret (Leixlip), Teresa (Castlebar), Mary and Catherine (Dublin), grandchildren Alvy, Lucy, Nancy and Peter, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends.

Removal was to Sweeney’s Funeral Home, Louisburgh, and, following repose there, further removal took place to St Patrick’s Church, Lousiburgh, where Fr Karl Burns officiated at the reception ceremony.

The celebrant of her Funeral Mass was Fr Paddy Gill. Nancy was laid to rest in Aughavale Cemetery, Westport. Peaceful rest to her soul.

At the end of Mass the following eulogy was given by her granddaugher Alvy;

The strongest memory of my grandmother that I have: is a doorway. From the blurry faint images we retain of infancy to only months ago…the one that remains strongest is Granny, sitting in her wheelchair, beside my granddad framed by their doorway. They would stand like that as we drove away home after a weekend visit, side by side waving us off, wishing us well on our journey. If it was lashing rain, if the wind was howling and the door was letting the heat out…it didn’t matter. She would sit there with a smile and a wave that lasted long after we retreated into the distance. When I stand here in front of you today, I like to think we are still all on this journey, and knowing Granny, she’s still in that doorway, waving at us all and wishing us well.

Because that is the kind of women she was. It didn’t matter if she hadn’t seen us in months, if she hadn’t been back to the Island in years or if anything else got in the way. Granny put her family first, always. I remember sitting by her as she spun out tales of the Island, and though I can hardly do those justice…she made us dream of sneaking out to watch local dances, the wild young girl she was and most of all the people. She loved the Island, and her family there. She’d tell us about currachs, fishing, and cooking bread in the fire. I think the warmth of family she grew up with lasted her whole life, and shaped her into the woman of strength and dignity she became. I’ve have never met a woman more proud, more loyal and I think it would warm her heart to see you all here today.

The most important people in Granny’s life were always her family and she was selfless when it came to us. As sick as she was: she was more worried about leaving Grandad and Daddy without her, than the pain she was probably feeling. She was proud too, proud of her son and all he achieved, proud of us from first steps onwards, but mostly she was proud of her husband. The man that stood by her, cared for her, and held her hand till the very end. She would tell anyone that listened, with a half-smile about “what a wonderful husband she had”. No matter how sick she was or what life threw at her …she was always thankful. She always felt blessed. That is a testament to her faith in God and her strength of character. She was tested to the limits of what a human can endure and despite it all, she never had a bad word to say. Granny wasn’t one to moan, or complain.

When we were small we used to call her “granny in galway” and she used to chuckle at that. See one of the best things, and I think we’ll all agree, was her wicked sense of humour. It didn’t matter how tired or sleepy she was, she was always listening and she was sharp too. She’d tease and cajole Grandad or silence anyone with a quick comment. Then she’d settle back in her chair, a little glint in her eye at the mischief she was causing. I remember visiting her in hospital once and Peter, my brother, was probably three. He rapped out a particularly inappropriate song in the ward. I remember looking around at everyone else in their beds and their appalled faces, but not Granny, Peter probably caused more than one cardiac arrest on that occasion… But Granny just sat back and laughed. She always saw the funny side of life.

Granny or Nancy was a gorgeous woman. Anyone that knew her felt the need to say so… “your granny is such a lovely lady” and they were right. She is. She’s the kind of character that comes along once in a while, she had the sort of strength and love of life that was untouchable. She always took the time she needed for her family, friends, the church and music. The things that mattered.Grandad told us just the last day about the first time they met. About his questionable choice of clothing, Bright red plaid, and how she was dancing. I think his words were “Oh, she could dance”, and I remember all through our childhood she would sing old Irish songs, tell us about dances and the like. I think that after family and God, for Granny, came music.

She’s waited so long to be able to dance again and I like to think of her now, finally free, the siege of Ennis in the background, wherever she is. I think we can all be sure that she’s dancing. 

And in the words of the Poet  MaryElizabeth Foye…

“Do not Stand at My Grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the mornings hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush,

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there, I did not die.”