Cleary, Mick
July 20, 2012Mick Cleary, who died recently at his home in Sydney, was a former Department of Agriculture official, who initially worked in counties Clare and Mayo before heading to England and ending up working for the Irrigation Commission in Australia.
His work with the Irrigation Commission was mostly in the bush, where he sometimes had to camp out for weeks. Mick and Mina's home in Sydney was a staging post for many young Irish, especially from North Clare, who came to them on arrival, where they were welcomed and introduced to many opportunities, with great personal care. Mick had an amazing ability to connect with people with genuine interest in their story. He loved sport of all kinds and played football with Lisdoonvarna and Clare. He remained vice-president of the Lisdoonvarna Club for 56 years since he left there. With a love of amateur drama, traditional music and singing, he was a leading figure in Comhaltas in Australia, arranging music sessions, dances and floats in the St Patrick's Day parade there.
Mick and family never lost contact with Clare, returning on vacation frequently and meeting up with their many friends. In the year 2000, a book was being written about Clare people living and working in other lands called The Scattering, Mick was one of those selected to tell his story. Clare Champion photographer John Kelly was in Mick's house in Sydney to listen to his story, Beneath the Southern Cross. The following year, Mick and members of his family returned for the book launch at Shannon. He describe the occasion as the highlight of his life.
Mick was undoubtedly one of nature's gentlemen, enjoyed life to the full and was, thankfully, blessed with his full faculties up to the time of his death. Proof of his popularity was the sizeable and representative gathering, who attended a recent remembrance mass celebrated in Corpus Christi Church, Lisdoonvarna. Husband of the late Mina, he was father of Maureen, Bernie, Flan, Des and Vincent. He had 18 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. "We all have different journeys, different paths along the way, we all were meant to learn some things, but never meant to stay." - Liz Clancy
(Text courtesy Clare Champion 20/07/12) Tweet
