The Late Jimmy Madden The recent death of Jimmy Madden, Lislevane Post Office, has removed one of the most colourful personalities in Barryroe parish. A man who could turn his hand to any task, he could be aptly described as a 'Jack of all trades', a carpenter, mason, a painter, a decorator and a general all round tradesman. Jimmy was a man who could master any craft with a degree of perfection that could match the best. He was a man very much in demand by parishioners having the Stations and when Jimmy would arrive, the women of the house would feel very relaxed as they felt confident that everything would be in readiness for the big occasion. No doubt, the parish priest could always identify any house which had the imprint of Jimmy's hand. A man of strong temperate leadings, he was a lifelong member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, being a Golden Jubilarian for many years. In the pre-television era, when concerts and plays were part of parish life, during Lent and Advent, Jimmy was a lending member of the local Dramatic Society and played a leading role in many productions. Jimmy's sporting interests were wide and varies and few could match them. With Barryroe GAA he played hurling and football. He played his first football match with Barryroe against the famed Courcey Rovers in 1947. He was a member of the Barryroe team which met Ballydehob in the South West Junior Hurling final in Enniskeane on the first Sunday of October, 1950; the day that Danno Mahony threw in the ball. PASSION He was an avid racing follower and a regular attended at meetings in Killarney, Tralee, Listowel and Mallow but his greatest sporting passion was for the bowling game. He was one of those players who won far more scores than he lost and was rarely beaten on the Lislevane/Grange circuit. After his playing days, he maintained a lifelong interest in the sport and, on many a Sunday afternoon (with some of his colleagues), he could be seen at venues such as Clancool, Ballinadee, Upton, Oldcourt, The Miles, Ballygurteen, The Marsh Road, Crossbarry, Kilbrittain, Ballyshoneen, Ballyvolane, Kilmurry, Monkstown, Mount Massey, Churchtown, Timoleague, Dublin Hill, etc. He was as well known at "The Black Man" as he was at 'The School Cross.' However, he will be best remembered throughout Barryroe parish during recent years for his work as Sacristan in the parish church. Having worked with no fewer than six parish priests, his work for church will always stand as a living memorial to him. One facet of his work during that period is worth recalling. When the centenary of Barryroe Parish Church was being held in the summer of 1972, all the decorations were carried out by Jimmy, which included erecting the Papal Flag on the spire of the Church. In a very touching homily at the Requiem Mass, the chief celebrant, Fr. Pat Stevenson PP, described Jimmy as a unique man, a man who touched the lives and hearts of so many families in the parish and beyond. His association with the church and the parish will be sadly missed, declared Fr. Stevenson, who went on to say that when anything went wrong in the church, electrical or otherwise, it was only a matter of calling Jimmy and the problem would be put right in a matter of minutes. SHOULDERED In a most unique gesture of respect and appreciation for a lifetime of dedicated service, six of the priests who and concelebrated Mass, those who had served in the parish and were natives of the parish, shouldered the coffin from the church door to the waiting hearse out on the road. A guard of honour of members of the GAA, the Residents Association and Ból Chumman, led by legendary bowler Mick Barry, escorted the cortege to Lislevane Cemetery where the obsequies were conducted by Fr. Stevenson. Pre-deceased by his wife Cathy, (née McCarthy), for a number of years, he was also of great support to his son, John, in operating the Lislevane Post Office. In a very fitting graveside oration, his near neighbour and secretary of Barryroe GAA club, Paddy Murphy, paid a glowing tribute to Jimmy for a life time of service to every aspect of community and sporting life in the parish. To John and his wife Mary and family, and Jimmy's brothers and sisters and his many relatives and friends went the sympathy of all who had the privilege of knowing Jimmy Madden. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. John Sexton Courtesy of the Southern Star November 2002 Tweet

Most Read Stories