Reidy, John
June 15, 2011John Reidy of Ballaugh, Killarney, passed away on Thursday, June 2 in the Bon Secours Hospital, Tralee after a battle with Motor Neurone Disease, which he fought with great courage and positivity,
His determination to live his life to the full and his ongoing efforts to raise awareness of this devastating illness were testament to his strength of character and bravery. He was 63 years of age.
Born in June 18, 1947 he was the first child of John and Joan (nee Cronin) and older brother to Joe, Kit, Aidan, Eileen, Marion, Gerard, Brendan and Joanie. John spent a very happy childhood in Rock Street, Tralee.
The Reidys were a well known sporting family in Tralee and throughout his life John remained a true Austin Stacks man, playing both hurling and football for the club in his younger days.
He was educated in Balloonagh Convent, The Christian Brothers and The Green, following which he left Tralee at the age of 17 to join the Department of P&T as a trainee technician. He spent four years in the school of Electrical Engineering Limerick, Crawford Technical College Cork and in P&T training schools across Cork, Limerick and Dublin.
John met his wife Mary (nee O'Leary) in January 1968 and they were married five years later in 1973. During this time John worked for the Post Office Engineering Branch in Cobh, Kinsale and Tralee. He was promoted to Killarney in 1971 and spent approximately 30 years working in East Kerry and finished his career with Eircom as Operations Manager covering much of the Kerry and Limerick region.
John was always an active member of the IOPE Union throughout his career and served on its national executive for a number of years. He took early retirement from Eircom in 2001.
In 1975 John and Mary moved to their family home in Ballaugh where they went on to have five children- Siobhán, Aileen, Orlagh, Deirdre and Dáire. John was a devoted and energetic dad and shared a special bond with each of his children.
Throughout his life John had a great passion for amateur drama and worked with a variety of groups and took part in many drama festivals. He travelled the country with his good friend Fr Tom Hickey, and they won awards at local, national and international level. In more recent years he was a member of the Dóchas drama group in Killarney.
John was an active board member of the Killarney Credit Union and was chairman for a number of years -including the period when the new offices in New Street were opened.
Around this time he was involved in a parish group set up by Fr Bill Murphy to establish the need for a new church in the eastern side of the town. He remained active in ministry in the Church of the Resurrection right up until the onset of his illness.
While his daughters were at school in St Brigid's, John joined the Parents Association there. He later spent six years on the school board and after a few years break, returned as chairman, a role which he held until his death. He also became a member of the St Brendan's Parents Association when his son joined the school five years ago.
One of John's other pursuits was travel- he loved to explore new places. Although recent trips had taken him around the world his favourite spots were closer to home - in particular West Kerry where a last family holiday was happily spent just before his illness was diagnosed.
John noticed the first symptoms of his illness in summer 2009, although it was many months before he received the devastating news that he had Motor Neurone Disease.
Since then he received exceptional care from his GP Dr Gary Stack, Dr Helena Moore, Dr Mulgrew, Mr Rice and the staff at the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee, Dr Patricia Sheehan and the staff at the Kerry Palliative Care Day Centre, his home carers and community nursing and therapy teams.
John remained positive and good-humoured throughout his illness and was greatly appreciative of all of the care given to him and they advice and support provided by the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
John was a very sociable man and many many great friends over the years. These friends, neighbours and colleagues, along with family, were regular and welcome visitors to his home throughout his illness ad many hours were spent reminiscing and story telling.
His family and friends will fondly remember him for his wicked sense of humour and generosity of spirit. His passing will be felt by many and he will be greatly missed.
Ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam dilis.
Courtesy of The Kerryman
15th June 2011 Tweet
