The death of Michael McGrath, 4 Maple Lawn, Ballon, which took p lace at his home on Wednesday 28 December following a lengthy illness, caused deep and genuine regret throughout the parish and indeed much further afield. Aged 72 years, Mick had been to the fore in community work in his beloved Ballon for most of his life and his great efforts were recognised when he received the Individual Achievement Award at the Carlow Pride of Place Awards in 2007.

Mick was the driving force behind Tidy Towns in Ballon and for many years was a one-man committee and could regularly be seen picking litter, trimming hedges or watering plants on a daily basis. He was also to the fore in the upkeep of his estate, Maple Lane, regularly manicuring the grass or pruning the many shrubs or trees that he had planted in the estate. Mick's efforts contributed greatly to Maple Lawns' successes in the Carlow Pride of Place and Litter League competitions. On leaving school, Mick worked in a variety of 'big house' gardens like Barrett's in Ballynoe and Lecky's in Ballykeaely before taking up employment with Thompson's in Carlow, where he worked for 30 years.

In his younger days, he played football with Kilbride GFC, winning the Carlow JFC with them in 1964. He was a great lover of the outdoors and nature, keeping an extensive aviary, which housed many varieties of colourful birds.
His remains reposed at his home before being removed to the Church of SS Peter and Paul, Ballon on the evening following his death.Burial took place in the local cemetery after requiem Mass, concelebrated by Fr Edward Whelan, PE, Fr Brendan Howard, PP and Fr Tom Little, PP, Askea, on Friday 30 December. Members of Kilbride GFC provided a guard of honour at both the removal and funeral and his neighbours in Maple Lawn did likewise at the removal.

Mick is mourned by his wife Marie, son Denis (Ballintemple), daughter Lillian Fernadez (Ballon Hill), sisters Betty Clarke (Graiguecullen), Kathleen McGrath (Ballon Hill), and by his grandchildren, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, nephew and nieces, as well as by his many friends and neighbours. He was predeceased by his daughter Catherine in a tragic road accident in 1983.

- Courtesy Carlow Nationalist, 17th January 2012 Tweet

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