An icon has gone to rest

The late Kathleen Miney

A heart of gold has stopped beating and the little community of Drumrooske have been left devastated, a family has lost a darling wife, mother and grandmother, while her neighbours in the long winding lane know they will never see her likes again, her close friend Sean Delaney described her as an icon, the late Kathleen Miney who passed away on Saturday October 13 after a very short illness.

When death comes so quickly it stops us in our tracks and makes us think of the very thin line between happiness and sorrow and how quickly it can all change.

Life began for Kathleen when she was born to parents Con and Susan Soraghan and grew up alongside her three sisters Peggy, Dympna, and Sue in Lavey. It was in 1974 when we here in the parish of Ballintemple got to know her when she married John Pakie Miney Drumrooske and there began a lovely story as she settled into her new surrounds and made friendships that would last a lifetime.

Kathleen was a woman with many talents but her main employment was in catering, where she was employed over the years in places like the Headford Arms, Kells, Farnham Cavan, and also in Cavan bus office back in the day.

As the years passed herself and John were blessed with three lovely daughters Siobhan, Fiona, Cait and a darling son Cathal. Life on the family farm and elsewhere was busy with cows to be milked and sows with their litters all to be tended to and looked after - that was life back then.

Heartbreak

As the old saying goes, nothing stays the same, and a cruel twist was unfolding in the Miney household when son Cathal became unwell needing hospital treatment and their world fell apart when on December 10, 1991 he was diagnosed with a terminal illness and to compound their grief it was the day of his seventeenth birthday when the family and friends should be celebrating a lovely occasion, we can only imagine their absolute heartbreak.

Masses, prayers and maybe a visit to Lourdes came in the weeks and months that followed but the adored only son, brother, and much admired young Lacken footballer went to his home in heaven on the 6th day of April 1992 leaving shattered lives behind. Life has to go on, no matter how hard it is to pick up the pieces, and that is what the family did with great and undying support from friends and neighbours.

Kathleen loved sport and in her youth played camogie with Lavey and later in life enjoyed the thrill of seeing her daughters play for Lacken and when it came to football she was a fervent supporter, always there with husband John cheering on the sky blues no matter what the game and when it came to the weekly Lotto her generosity won’t be matched.

We will miss her along the railing at Crowe Memorial Park where she stood come rain or shine and that big old smile was always the same win, lose or draw she was happy anyway as she looked forward to the next encounter.

A day in the bog was something that she loved and the many trips up the Bruskey road with the family all in tow to Drumbrucklis where the winter fuel was saved and if some of the relatives had come for a visit to Drumrooske at that time they too ended up in the bog, and hadn’t the relaxing evening they had planned.

Family meant everything in the Miney household and the photos we saw on screen in the funeral home said it all so many happy events all caught on camera and in there among them the celebration of their golden jubilee wedding anniversary which was celebrated less than two years. Another event that was very important was the Christmas get-together when that little community who lived in the winding lane assembled and let their hair down a wonderful tradition kept alive through the years long may it continue, and I am sure it will.

Grandkids

As the years passed the grandchildren increased and now add up to ten and what she didn’t do for them wasn’t worth doing school runs right up to a couple of weeks ago then there was the birthday parties and all the other special occasions in their young lives and Kathleen was there organising it all. Now those same little ones will miss her so much. She had a very strong faith and it carried her at the time of her son Cathal’s death and her devotion to St Michael’s Church, Potahee will long be remembered where she served as a Eucharistic minister and was one of those who partook in the holy hour and was always available to help out if needed. Surely God will reward her for her dedication over a long number of years.

Fondly we recall her learning to drive and it was around the neighbourhood of the place she loved, and her first car was a red Mini with the reg 44ID and she was proud of it as she drove around the highways and byways around Drumrooske, they are times that are fondly recalled by her family neighbours and friends, and not forgetting that weekly trip with Granny Miney for the pension and the weekly shopping.

The death of her sister Peggy just a few months ago was something that brought a lot of sadness to Kathleen who had done so much over her illness which was over a couple of years, many a visit she made just to be with her during that tough period.

Kathleen was a devoted reader of the weekly papers the Farmers Journal and the Celt was always in the Miney household and they were gone through, front page to back, also a great woman for Facebook, all combined she was right up with the news.

And so a community has said farewell to one who won so many friends over her many years among us. She will be dearly missed like her little ceilis to her great friend Majella and all the others too numerous to mention, in the family home where she was the rock in husband John’s life as they travelled everywhere together, the whole family circle will never forget her and the joy she brought to all their lives. May God who called her so suddenly, take her to Himself.

Her remains reposed at Lakelands Funeral home and the crowds were huge, as was the volumes of traffic and the local neighbourhood were there controlling it all over many hours as they were at the family home where she spent her last night. Praise to you all for a job well done professionally.

On Wednesday morning her remains were brought to St Michael’s Church, Potahee where a packed crowd was gathered and along the way the pupils, teachers and staff of Scoil Mhuire stood outside in reverence in a mark of respect and from the parochial house, a guard of honour flanked the cortege on its final journey provided by Lacken GAA. Her funeral which was celebrated by Rev Gabriel Kelly with concelebrants Rev Andrew Tully and Rev Gerry Comiskey was a beautiful reflection of the life of Kathleen, a homily for the ages by Father Gabriel and the parish gave her the send off she deserved while the lovely singing voice of Ollie Tynan and his rendition of Gentle Mother left many with tears in their eyes, with all the praise being heaped upon her she might well have used her well known saying: Go To Pot.

God rest you where you were laid to rest beside your darling son Cathal. To her grieving husband John, daughters Siobhan, Fiona, Cait, sisters Dympna, Sue and all the extended family we offer our condolences at this very sad time.

* Obituary by Danny Brady.