The quite man from Mona's

The untimely passing of Mallow man John Cronin brought a void that will never be filled. He bore his illness with a marvellous attitude and dignity before his peaceful passing at Cork University on Sunday, October 21.

John, who was youngest son of former MEP and TD, the late Jerry Cronin, was born in Main Street (Mona's Bar) on April 7, 1955 ad resided with his wife Mary in Fair Street up to his death. A man of few words but possessing the wit of Oscar Wilde, John was well known and loved both in Ireland and further a field in his work in construction. He worked in Scotland, England, Canada and Belgium and spent some years in South Africa working on various townships.

The Cronin family were renowned in Rugby circles and John played his part by lining out for such clubs as Rockwell, UCC, Dungarvan and Mallow and unknown to many he received youth trails with the Irish team. For a short period he also played Gaelic Football with De La Salle. He will be lovingly remembered for his great interest in horse racing and was a well known figure doing his bets in the local bookmakers. John loved nature and was regularly seen walking his beloved dog Smokey in such places as Doneraile Park and Youghal beach, which he continued to do up to recent weeks.

When John and Mary (Moynihan) married in 1999 their then much loved dog Fred left home and walked down the Church aisle as the ceremony progressed to the amazement of all those in attendance. He also did his bit in the local FCA but retired later when he refused to get a haircut. He loved the game of 45 and Texas Holdem, which he played with friends twice a week and even participated in his last game just seven days before his death. Even when away from home he always had close contacts with his family. While in Belgium some years ago he unexpectedly flew home to vote for his father who was standing as a Fianna Fail candidate before flying back to mainland Europe shortly afterwards.

Up to a few weeks ago he was a regular caller to his mother Shelia who now lives in St. Joseph's Road where he did renovation work and other jobs around her home. There was ample proof of his popularity by the amount of people who gathered to pay their respects at his removal, Mass and burial. Many old work colleagues travelled long distances to bid a final farewell. One poignant reminder of the man was a bar stool positioned outside Mona's Bar and on it was a photograph, a betting slip and a newspaper opened wide to the racing pages as the funeral cortege passed. During Requiem Mass young family members acted as readers while others were part of the offertory procession which included a deck of cards and money chip, a model of a horse and sand and shells from Youghal beach.

Nephews Sam and Jerry Cronin paid special tributes to their uncle and Billy Attridge and Philip Cotter provided the music while Derbhla Linehan sang during the ceremony. Family relation Barry Whelan sang a brilliant unaccompanied version of the highly emotive classic 'Time to say goodbye' which won an appreciative applause from the huge congregation at the end of Mass. During the ceremonies family and close friends were on hand to shoulder his coffin and enroute to his burial pallbearers stopped at Fair Street corner and at Mon's Bar for a short moment as a tribute to the man actor Oliver Reed called 'the quite man from Mona's'. In a tribute from his home in France his good friend and writer Finn Mac Eoin (Owens) said 'It was his malice free mentality that he exhibited without even knowing and perhaps unlike most of us, he did actually catch a falling star'. John Cronin has run the last race of life but to so many he will always be a winner. To his wife Mary, brother Billy, sisters Mary, Anna and Aileen, aunt, relations and his many friends we express our sincere condolences.

(Text courtesy of The Corkman 01/11/12) Tweet

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