Larkin, Sean
February 01, 2012He was married to Joan Healy-Rae Kilgarvan and they met when they were attending University in Galway. They both qualified as teachers and 24 years ago they emigrated to America. They had two children Sheila and Shane.
Sean was a larger than life character, extremely engaging, very intelligent and deeply committed to his family and his work. When Sean first came to Kerry he fitted in very quickly with the locals and made many friends and always enjoyed his trips to Kerry.
He wrote a song with Joan called the Roughty Valley Song which is about the pain that is incurred through forced emigration, which has always been an affliction on the people of Ireland back over the years. At that time a carnival was held in Kilgarvan village every year and the last verse of the song was :
"the carnival comes once a year and homeward come the clan,
not every year but faithfully as often as they can.
a focal point, a meeting place, a reason to exist
a Roughly Valley welcome boys for those we all have missed."
It was sang at his funeral and the massive crowds that attended over the three days were a testament to how popular he was and the high esteem that he was held in on both sides of the Atlantic. His mother Brid, who is a woman of very strong faith, along with her other sons Cathal and Kevin went to America to be with Sean when he struggled with his illness. His sister Anne and other brother Enda live in New York.
Joan was very grateful to have great support from her own family and Sean's during his illness. He bore his illness like a true man that he was dignity and determination to try to get better. He endured endless weeks and months of treatment in his efforts to survive but, despite excellent medical care, his mighty heart gave out on January 19.
Sean had a very strong interest in the GAA and was a hurler himself. Joan and Sean were former active members and officers of the St. Barnabas GAA Club in New York and Sean used to always enjoy coming home to All-Irelands at every opportunity that he could.
He liked to keep in touch with everything going on, not just in Galway but also in Kerry, and every week he used to read The Kerryman newspaper from cover to cover and he thoroughly enjoyed it.
His wife Joan, children Shane and Sheila and grandchildren have been robbed of a loving husband, father and grandfather but they know they have the privilege of having a very special human being in their lives.
I know that our loss is heavens gain as he will be joining up with all his friends who have gone before him and he will keep them well entertained.
May he Rest in Peace-
Michael Healy-Rae
Courtesy of The Kerryman
1st February 2012 Tweet
