The late Maisie Maguire.

The late Maisie Maguire, Farnham Road, Cavan

THERE was general regret at the death of Mrs Maisie Maguire, 10 Farnham Road, Cavan, at Cavan General Hospital on Wednesday, February 1 following a brief illness. Formerly Maisie Holden she was a native of Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny and was born on September 23, 1919. From a family of 17, 11 brothers and five sisters she came from a farming background. She moved to Dublin in her late teens and came to Cavan in the early 1940s to work as office manager for Keenan's Bookmakers, a job she continued to do until she retired in 1984. She married John P. Maguire, formerly of Milltown, in the late 1940s. He ran the family pub "The Northern Bar" at 13 Bridge St, Cavan while Maisie continued to work. In 1962 her husband died suddenly at the age of 44 leaving Maisie with five young children. The following year she sold the pub and moved to Farnham Road and for the next 22 years she worked and reared her family. After her retirement she became involved in a number of community groups, among them The Widows Association where she acted as treasurer for a period. She was also a member of Positive Age with which she enjoyed many outings, both at home and abroad. She was a regular visitor to Lourdes as part of the Kilmainhamwood pilgrimage group. She enjoyed a game of cards, a skill she learned at home with her large family and enjoyed regular outings to whist drives on a Thursday night. For much of her adult life Maisie attended daily Mass and for many years was part of the Pastoral Care team in Cavan General Hospital, where she visited patients and on many occasions said prayers at the removal of remains in the absence of a priest. Maisie was always an independent woman and led a very active life. She enjoyed nothing more than a cup of tea, a good warm fire and a chat. During her long life she witnessed many changes in Cavan where she saw the building of the present cathedral; assisted survivors on the night of the tragic fire in the Poor Clare Convent and also enjoyed the heady days of the glory years of Cavan football. However 'though she spent most of 70 years in Cavan, she never forgot her Kilkenny roots nor lost her accent. She also regularly recalled the Big Freeze in 1947 when Swellan Lake was completely frozen and of course The Emergency during the Second World War when she swopped coupons for nylons and had gas masks at the ready. In recent years she divided her time between Killeshandra and Cavan and regularly attended St Phelim's Day Centre. She will be sadly missed by her family. She is survived by her sons, Patrick and Michael and daughters, Anne, Helen and Mary; her sisters Mrs Bridie Farrell, Kilkenny, and Mrs Nancy Lyons, Waterford, as well as her twelve grandchildren who loved her dearly. The funeral took place from the Cathedral on Friday, February 3 to Drumlane cemetery.