Regretted death of Kells town clerk

MR Eamon Cooke

Formerly of Cavan Town

THE recent death of Mr Eamon Cooke, Mill Lane, Kells, Co Meath and formerly of Main Street, Cavan, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, was received with widespread regret. Aged 82 and a native of Cavan Town, he received his early education at the De La Salle national school and St Patrick’s College, Cavan. His early career was spent in An Garda Síochána and, on graduation, he was stationed in Whitehall. However his term in the force was comparatively short and he later joined the family bar and restaurant business on Cavan’s Main Street with his parents, Edward and Johanna.

Eamon joined Cavan County Council as a clerical officer in 1965 before being appointed Town Clerk in Kells in 1973, and later transferred to Meath County Council headquarters in Navan. Eamon was always interested in the arts and literature. The first threads of what he could achieve in the literary world came in 1956 when he won a short story competition organised by “Captain Mac” in the Irish Press. He contributed a selection of stories and poetry to the Garda Review in 1964, which drew favourable response.

Eamon published articles in The Anglo-Celt and in a number of magazines including Poetry Ireland Review, Cyphers and ‘The Drumlin’, a Cavan publication edited by his close friend, writer and poet, Dermot Healy. Eamon maintained a busy schedule and in 1986 was associated with the Poets for Africa campaign and had six of his poems included in “Ceanannas”, the Kells Credit Union silver jubilee magazine. He also published his own volumes of poetry.

Eamon had fine singing voice and, in his youth, was a member of the Cathedral Choir in Cavan. He was similarly involved in Kells, as a member of the parish choir and also the Meath Diocesan Choir, performing in Lourdes and Knock. He was a member of Kells Players, Kells Art Club and the Boyne Writer’s group.

He was predeceased by his wife Mary, his son, James, his parents, Edward and Johanna and his brothers, Fr Michael and Liam. He is survived by his sons Fred and Tim, his daughter Johanna, his grandchildren Sam, Jack, Ted, J.J. and Robyn and his sister Anna May.

His funeral took place from St Colmcille’s Church, Kells to St Mary’s cemetery, Carrick-on-Shannon.