The Late Liam O'Connor The death occurred on Thursday, November 3, 2005 of Liam C. O'Connor, Borris, in Waterford Regional Hospital. Though he had been a patient there for the previous eight days, his death was most unexpected. Liam was the only person from Borris to be born in the Station House in the year 1927, in the home of his grandmother and grandfather, who was station-master there at the time. He spent his entire life in Borris, following in the footsteps of his father as a publican and auctioneer. He had a good business mind and a talent for spotting up-and-coming trends. He expanded the pub and started one of the first cabaret lounges in the area. His outgoing personality and ability to communicate with people, combined with his organisational skills, made this venture a very successful and popular one. Liam was a keen sports man and took a great interest in all GAA activities right through his life. In his youth he participated actively in hurling and is reputed to have been instrumental in bringing the sport to Borris. Having ceased playing hurling and football, he took up golf, which he also played successfully and enjoyed enormously, so much so that he played as recently as September. Fishing was another sport in which Liam was fanatically interested and he was a member of the Borris and Kilkenny Anglers' Club. He really loved the river and was really interested in sea fishing. In the past, he enjoyed shooting and was a member of the Borris Gun Club but when his last gun dog died a dew years ago, he abandoned the sport. He was always involved in the local community and was a founder member of Borris Development Association and amongst other projects was involved in the campaign for the Scared Heart Cemetery and the local tennis courts. Many tributes have been paid to Liam since he died as a good friend and a truly honest businessman, who had great respect for his clients and a desire to help these with whom he felt needed his help. His greatest loyalty and kindness was to his wife and family by whom he is greatly and sadly missed. He was a loyal Catholic and for about 15 years attended Mass daily. A testament to the high respect in which he was held was seen in the large attendance at his wake, removal and burial. His remains were removed from his home to the Church of the Scared Heart, Borris on Saturday evening, November 6, and was received by his nephew Fr Sean Furlong O.S.A. Cork, who also said prayers in the home. O.S.A. Dublin also officiated at the removal. The GAA provided a guard of honour and staff at the Green Drake Inn greeted the remains at the church door. Funeral Mass was celebrated on Sunday by Fr Furlong assisted by Fr Bresnan, Fr Gerry Byrne PP Graigueamanagh, Fr Patrick Hickey, Cork, Fr Tony Cronin, a former curate in Borris, and Fr Laurence Fleming PE. Fr Joe Fleming PP Clonegal and Fr Phil O'Shea PP Myshall were also in attendance. The Mass was enhanced by the wonderful singing and music of Art O'Leary and the local choir of which Liam was a member. Liam is mourned by his wife Eileen, daughters Ita Finnerty (Co Wicklow), Annette Walsh (Borris) Mary Cramp (Somerset, England) and Cora Robinson (London); sisters Mary Furlong (Campile), Josie Litchfield (Dublin) and Frances O'Neill (Duleek); grandchildren Aoibhinn, Gary, Conor John, Kieran and Sinead; sons-in-law Pat Finnerty, Pat Walsh, Julien Cramp and Mark Robinson; his aunt Maggie, cousins and a large circle of frriends. May he rest in peace. November 3, 2005 Tweet

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