God rest you Owensie Smith

Obituary

A true Gael has gone to his eternal reward with the passing of Owensie Smith, which occurred peacefully at his home in Legwee on Thursday last July 17.

Eldest son to parents Dan and Katie he and his late brother Seamaus grew up on the family farm in the townland of Urble, a very peaceful and tranquil setting in the parish of Ballintemple. For his first steps into education it was the short distance up the road to Aghaloora school, a place where he made friendships that would last a lifetime, all sadly cut far too short at the relatively young age of 70.

Owensie was a man who loved life and always had a great old smile on his face when you met him, no matter what, he beamed positivity as he went about his work which was wide and varied over his time with us.

Devoted to his family circle he has left a lasting legacy for them all to follow and the photographic memorabilia that we saw at his reposing is a reminder of the much loved husband, father and grandfather he was.

When Owensie picked the woman he would share his life with, and who would be the mother of his children, he went less than a mile to the townland of Legwee where he found Mary Gaffney, daughter of the late Mick and Annamay, and together they raised a family of three girls and one boy. When it came to interests and hobbies in life he had plenty, but one that stood out was his deep and passionate love of GAA.

It was part of his DNA bred into his veins as his late father Dan RIP was a star goalkeeper with Bruskey (a team that wrote their own piece of history) it has been well recorded in our parish that he was very close to a place on the history making Polo ground side.

We all love our cub and Owensie gave his heart and soul to the green and old of Ballymachugh. He was there at every twist and turn of their fortunes through good times and not so good. He gave it all and the famous old Hughs will be forever indebted and will never forget his contribution to so many aspects of the club.

In the busy world it is not that easy to find volunteers but Owensie was a legend and Kingspan Breffni is a place where we have so many memories of him stewarding over so many years and many a time on big match day with fellow Hughs man Brendan Sweeney in charge of the whistle, Owensie would raise the green or white in his job as umpire. Brendan will miss his dear old friend and won’t we all. I have a feeling in time to come there will be some kind of memorial to remind us of the true Gael that he was in his beloved Sheelin Park.

Owensie could turn his hand to many kinds of work and one of his early employments was as a bus conductor in Dublin, while Buddy Kiernan’s was a place he spent time working in the piggeries, then in later years he worked with his late brother Seamus at construction where together they built many houses in our local area, which today bear testimony to their skilled hands.

When we sometimes reflect on life and just how fragile it can be, as we all go about our daily chores in today’s busy world here were two decent hard working brothers and now both gone to their eternal reward far too soon, doesn’t it make you wonder. But God’s ways are not ours and today they are together again and if there is a pint of Guinness to be found in the land beyond the sky then they will be in their element. Good luck boys and may God keep you in the palm of his hand where you will have eternal peace.

Owensie reposed at Reilly’s funeral home, Kilcogy where large numbers came to pay their last respects in a place that was awash with photographs and mementos of a dearly loved husband, father and grandfather.

His funeral Mass was celebrated in St Joseph’s Church, Loughduff with Rev Joe McGrath as celebrant.

It was then the short journey up the road to his final resting place in Ballynarry Cemetery, a trip which brought him past the place where he was born and then on by his beloved Sheelin Park, where a huge guard of honour by Ballymachugh GFC awaited and flanked the cortege to its final stop. After graveside prayers he was laid to rest and the sky above was a sea of colour as green and gold balloons went off sailing in the wind a final good bye for Big O as he was affectionately known.

To his dear wife Mary, daughters Annmarie, Catherine, Siobhan, son Donal and all the extended family and many friends we offer our sincere and heartfelt sympathies at this sad time.

Obituary submitted by Danny Brady.