Buckley, Joanie
March 28, 2013If there was a lull at a match, then patrons could expect the bellow of 'Up the Rockies' from the late Joanie Buckley, who passed away last Thursday.
The 62 year-old Ballydesmond native from Foyle was a thorough GAA and music fanatic, and attended matches throughout Duhallow as well as All Ireland finals. She moved to Newmarket in her early 20s and also worked with Cork County Council as a street sweeper.
At GAA matches, Joanie would walk up and down the edge of the field and shout out support to the players, and she knew every player's name and where they played and, importantly, kept note of how they played. They would frequently get the thumbs up or indeed thumbs down, and she would shake her head if her favourite team were not successful at the last blow of the whistle. Of course, when she met anyone, her catchphrase was simply, "Killarney."
Newmarket based solicitor Charlie O'Connor said with a smile that as Joanie only lived around the corner from his office she would frequently ramble in and chat about all the local news.
"Joanie was a tremendous character and a truly lovely lady. She was simply known as 'Killarney' and that was what she called everyone too. She will be greatly missed in the town," said Mr O'Connor. "You could be sure that at a match, out of all the roaring and bellowing, that Joanie's stood out and she was known throughout Duhallow," he said.
"We often had fierce banter in the office and she'd call in and say who had died and Joanie nearly had their death before the person had died themselves," smiled Mr O'Connor. He also held great praise for her when she worked for Cork County Council and said the town of Newmarket was "absolutely spotless," when Joanie at the helm with her shovel. He said that she went out in support of the striking Cork hurlers and also had a great passion for music. Joanie went to traditional music sessions at Bruach Na Carraige in Rockchapel every Tuesday night during the Summer. Joanie also had great banter with the staff at KD's chip shop in Newmarket and also with customers.
She also gave fantastic help to the Newmarket Drama Group when they were organising their stage for their plays. She also attended the rehearsals and sat on the sidelines and watched the humour as it unfolded.
"Newmarket town has lost a truly great character and she will be sadly missed," he said.
The late Joanie Buckley was removed from Reilly's funeral home on Saturday and buried in her native Ballydesmond.
Courtesy of The Corkman. Tweet
