Smyth, Joe
August 31, 2003
The late Joe Smyth
The death took place on the 13th of July, 2003, in the Erne Hospital, following a 10-month illness bravely borne, of Joe Smyth, Knockmore Road, Derrygonnelly. He was 74 and was a farmer and former Councillor.
Apart from the final week's hospitalisation, he had been faithfully looked after in his own home by his wife and family with the support (at night) of the Marie Curie nurses and District Nurse Monica McCauley.
Mr Smyth was the father of six, one of whom Kieran, newly-graduated was tragically killed in an accident on the family farm in 1991.
He himself was Canadian, having been born in St Paul's, Alberta in November 1928. However, the family returned to Fermanagh in 1937 when Joe was just 9 and, thereafter, he was Irish through and through. Despite being encouraged to go to school, it was Joe's wish to remain on the family farm where his grandfather kept stallion horses. People in the locality recall how, as a young boy, he was spotted cycling his bike to shows and fairs, a stallion on the lead trotting alongside him.
Schooling or not, he became a voice to be listened to and a growing influence within the community. This flair shone through when he was elected to the Enniskillen Rural District Council in the 60s, serving on two committees dealing with finances and housing.
Despite the cost involved, he succeeded in having a scheme adopted that brought a mains water supply across the Sillies River into the Derrygonnelly area which, along with a new sewerage scheme, allowed the development of houses in the Knockmore Road.
In 1978 he succeeded his late father, John as a board member of Derrygonnelly Creamery and, on formation of West Ulster Farmers Ltd in the same year, he was appointed to its board. He served as a member of its finance committee from that until his death. The deceased was highly regarded by his peers for his always concerned interest in the local farming scene and in farming generally.
The GAA played a huge part in his life, especially the fortunes of Derrygonnelly Harps. He was a member of the club's 1959 league-winning team and took great pride in that; he served as club treasurer from 1949-'75, he refereed for a number of years and was team manager and, until the onset of his illness, rarely missed a match where his advice could be clearly heard shouting advice from the stands.
By then he had met and married his wife, Sheila. They met appropriately, at a dance in 1960 in Enniskillen Townhall and were to share a love of dancing thereafter. They married in 1963 and had been looking forward to their ruby wedding.
Joe enjoyed life to the full. He especially enjoyed time spent with the family, had an intense interest in DIY and took a great pride in his garden. He was always to the fore where the parish work was concerned. He was a member of the group which started the bingo in the old parish hall and continued to call out the numbers until Kieran's death in 1991.
He was one of the main players at parish bazaars and was always available to do MC at concerts and other functions.
Since his own and his wife's retirement, he had been able to spend time in Belfast with their sons and daughter and on holiday trips abroad.
The deceased was a very popular and highly regarded member of the community, a truth which was reflected in the cross community attendances at his home and the con-celebrated funeral mass in St Patrick's Church, Derrygonnelly at which family members participated in the liturgy.
The parish priest Fr Lorcan Lynch was assisted by Fr Brian Darcy, CP and Fr Eddie Conway, PP., Blackrock, County Dublin.
The music for the Mass was provided by Lisa Burns and Sheila Rasdale and the singing by Karina McGurn and Catherine Higgins.
Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.
The deceased is survived by his wife, Sheila; his sons, Ray (Paula), Gabriel (Roisin); by his daughter, Joanne, by his grandchildren, Dervla, Oran, Tony and baby Lauren; by his brother, John (in Birmingham) and his sisters, May McManus, Enniskillen and Vera Conway, Belcoo and by a wide family circle.
Courtesy of the Fermanagh Herald
August 2003
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