Eyre, Michael
March 19, 2013THE death of Mr Michael (Mickey) Eyre on Tuesday 19 February at his home, 31 Dublin Road, Carlow, represents a huge loss to his wife Anna, their five children, eight grandchildren and extended family.
Aged 70, Michael passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. He had been ill for the past year but bore it with great courage and dignity.
Born on 11 February 1943 at Gortahile, Bilboa, Michael attended Bilboa National School, leaving at the young age of 13 to work in Rossmore coalmines. On 13 February 1957, he acquired work in the old pit in Rossmore and was asked if he wished to work on the bank at the mouth of the pit or to go underground. The pay was 7/ 6d on the bank and 8 shillings underground. He chose to work one-and-a-half-miles underground, where he was to be employed for a total of 26 years, with breaks in service here and there. During his breaks, he worked in Manchester and the sugar factory for 22 years, doing the campaigns up until it closed, where he made many a lifelong friend.
Although mining underground obviously had adverse health implications, Michael loved the work and liked to meet and talk with the men who also shared those days of very hard labour.
At the age of 18 Michael went to England, working in Manchester and residing near the Moss Side area of the city. Having returned home, he married Anna Dunne from Bilboa. Michael and Anna attended school together and his passing severs a wonderful friendship of more than 60 years and a hugely fulfilled married life of 48 years. The couple married in St Lazerian's Church, Leighlinbridge on 14 June 1965.
Michael and Anna had five beautiful children - Majella, Martina, Sharon, JJ and Mary, as well as eight grandchildren, all of whom Michael was extremely proud.
Throughout his life, Michael was deeply involved in sport. He played junior hurling with St Fintan's, Ballinabranna, and after his playing days was a great committee man, for years playing an active role in the running of St Fintan's. And while on those committees, he was involved in the purchase of the land on which the Ballinabranna clubhouse and playing pitch now stands. Michael also felt honoured to be named clubman of the year by the St Fintan's Hurling Club. Michael also played Gaelic football at all grades for Ballinabranna GFC.
When the family moved to Dublin Road some 36 years ago, Michael had a second club to follow through the playing involvement of his son JJ with Eire Og GFC. For the past 30 years he was a club member and went to
watch all the matches involving the Teach Asca club, with the highlights being five Leinster club final wins and two All-Ireland club final appearances.
As an avid GAA follower, Michael could recall the names of players, teams and events long past. He travelled the country to hurling and football games with his great friend Mattie Callinan and they would later reflect on the games of the day over a pint in The Irishman's.
A lifelong Manchester United follower, Michael followed the Red Devils when living in that city during the 1960s, when the legendary Matt Busby was the United manager and he made many a trip to the Old Trafford ground.
Michael was also involved in the Barrow Valley Athletics Club, meaning that the family were always together at the weekend, travelling the length and breadth of Ireland and England, competing at all levels or pounding the byroads of Bilboa with Michael's encouraging words echoing behind them.
A passionate follower of the Labour Party all his life, Michael canvassed for longserving Carlow/Kilkenny deputy Seamus Pattison, former ceann comhairle and MEP. Michael formed an abiding friendship with
Seamus, as he did with local Labour councillor Des Hurley, who became a lifelong family friend. Michael would travel from top to bottom of the county seeking votes for Labour Party candidates.
In November 2012, the party showed its appreciation for his long and outstanding service at a special ceremony in Kilkenny. That was a very proud occasion for Michael and his family.
A dedicated family man, Michael lived for Anna, his children and grandchildren.
The Eyre family always picked a day every year for a special outing, usually to the beach at Curracloe, Co. Wexford - a resort where they enjoyed many family holidays over the years when Michael would take long, leisurely walks on the beach, only to return and ask if the tea was ready.
Back in Carlow, he loved to walk five or six miles a day through the fields in Oak Park or in Ballinabranna Woods. Michael and Anna also liked to go on an annual sun holiday.
He was a man who had a fascination with clocks and would collect a clock or a watch wherever he went in the world. In latter years, this was normally a trip to Medjugorje or Fatima due to their devotion to Our Lady, as well as regular trips to Knock. He was planning a trip to Lourdes until ill health resulted in him not travelling.
A man of deep faith, Michael attended 8.30am Mass every Sunday morning in the Cathedral of the Assumption, where he would meet his many friends, especially his close friend Anthony 'Star' Geoghegan. They would pray first and then discuss the coming day's football or sporting events.
As someone remarked at Michael's funeral: "If you did not know him going into the cathedral, you knew him when you came out. He had a smile and a word for everyone and he made a difference to your day."
At home, Michael cultivated in very limited space a wide range of vegetables in his yard - including tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, cabbage and cucumbers. Tending to the vegetables was a labour of love for him. On 11 February, Michael celebrated his 70th birthday with a large party for family, neighbours and friends in The Irishman's licensed premises. There was a very large turnout and the music was provided by his cousins, the McNally family. At the party, he and Anna felt it appropriate that rather than people give him presents, a wishing well be provided so that people could donate money to the Oak Lodge at St Luke's Hospital, Rathgar, where Michael spent two months last year.
On the night, almost €1,000 was raised for the cause and, since Michael's passing, the family went to St Luke's to present the hospital with the money which will be used to provide comfort to residents of the lodges on the hospital grounds. The Eyre family extends thanks to Michael's friend James Carr for the manufacture of the wishing well that was used for donations on the night.
Michael was waked at home before removal to the Cathedral of the Assumption on Friday 22 February, where his remains were received by Fr Rory Nolan, CC, Carlow, assisted by Fr John Cummins, Adm, and Fr Leo, Capuchin Fathers, Dublin Street.
Fr Rory celebrated the funeral Mass on Friday morning, at which the readings were recited by Michael's daughters Mary and Sharon. Prayers of the Faithful were said by granddaughters Julie Ann, Jessica and Anna, his grandson Mikey and Mary Moore, his goddaughter.
The Offertory gifts were presented by Michelle, Michael's daughter-in-law, and his great friend Anthony 'Star' Geoghegan. His daughter Martina was Eucharistic minister.
Cllr Des Hurley paid a fitting tribute to Michael at the end of Mass, speaking of him as a special friend, family man and loyal Labour Party supporter. Following that, his eldest daughter Majella read out the Miner's Prayer to the congregation.
The coffin was draped in the Starry Plough flag of the Irish . Labour Party and a guard of honour was formed by members of Ballinabranna GFC. Michael was laid to rest in St Mary's Cemetery, Carlow. Fr Rory recited the final prayers at the graveside, with Josie Kelly singing The Furey's song The Old Man.
The attendance at the funeral included Labour Party councillors from Carlow and surrounding counties, retired Labour TD Seamus Pattison, councillors from all the major political parties in the Carlow area, and from the world of GAA the great Mick O'Dwyer, Tom 'Curly' Prendergast of Laois football fame and Kilkenny hurling star Richie Power.
Michael is mourned by his wife Anna, children Majella Cantwell (Brisbane), Martina O'Hara (Brookborough, Co Fermanagh), Sharon Maguire (Carlow), JJ (Carlow) and Mary Eyre-Townsend (Carlow), by his grandchildren
David, Julie Ann, John, Jessica, Mikey, Anna, Ellie May and Daire, by his stepbrother Paddy Lawlor (Bilboa), stepsister Mary Tracey (Myshall), godchildren Cathal Dunne (Carlow), Mary Moore (Leighlinbridge), sons-in-laws, daughter-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, kind neighbours and many friends.
The Month's Mind Mass for Michael will be celebrated this morning (Tuesday) in the Cathedral of the Assumption at 10am.
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