O'Grady, Jerry
July 03, 2013Jerry and his wife Sue had moved to the Isle of Sheppey in 1953 when he was working on the Kingsferry Bridge which was the link from the mainland to the island.
Even though he spent 70 of his 92 years in England he always called Ireland his home. In fact he never lost his Kerry accent and loved going back every year to see the
family. He only stopped going after his last brother Frank passed away in 2011 and his own failing health. He instilled that love of Kerry in all of his children and grand-children.
Jerry was the last surviving member of the family of eight. He was pre-deceased by his siblings - Daniel 1927 Ballinskelligs (Aged 4); John 1976 London; Mike 1996 New York; Patie 2001 Tralee/Ballinskelligs; Minnie (Hayes) 2001 London; Nora (Day) 2005 Cloon, Emiaghmore and Frank 2011 Killarney/Ballinskelligs.
Jerry received his education at the local Christian Brothers School in Cahersiveen and also the Technical College, Waterville. His brothers partook in the traditional sports of the area - John and Mike rowed in Regattas, Patie and Mike also played football.
Unlike them and breaking away from tradition, he was introduced to hurling by a Priest and schoolteacher from the school. By all accounts he took to the game very well and he got selected for South Kerry and continued playing as corner forward for Iveragh until emigrating to England at the age of 22.
Jeremiah Joseph 0'Grady, or Jerry as he liked to be known was bom to Mike and Kate 0'Grady on February 26,1921.
Due to his birth certificate being misplaced, he celebrated his birthday on December 11 for the first 50 years of his life until he applied for his birth certificate to obtain a passport. Jerry was never a man that would worry over the minor details in life!
Jerry grew up working on the family farm in Ballinskelligs. As a young man he attended the Technical College in Waterville to train as a carpenter and would cycle the nine miles to and from each day to learn his trade. After finishing his apprenticeship he emigrated to Gloucester in 1943 where he worked as a farmhand during the War War II.
He moved to London in 1945 to stay with his family before finding a job working as a shuttering carpenter in some of the most dangerous, bomb damaged building sites in the city. One of his most unusual jobs was working on a bunker for the then Prime Minister Winston Churchil for which he had to sign the Official Secrets Act.
Jerry was intent on leaving England and heading for the sunnier climes of Australia. But fate intervened in a small dancehall in Lewisham where he met a beautiful young lady Sue 0'Grady and they were married on February 11,1950.
They were proud parents to Terry, Pat, Danny, Maureen, Susan and Barbara, 17 grandchildren, five great grandchildren.
Jerry and Sue spent 63 years as husband and wife and put the success of their marriage down to patience, always forgiving each other and a strong belief in God. They passed
these values on to their children in how to lead a good, honest and enjoyable life.
Jerry was a hard working man who earned great respect from all that knew him. Indeed, he was once asked whether he wanted to be the foreman to a job - at the age of 80. While he kindly declined this offer, although he gave it some thought, it was testament to his work ethic and character! Jerry was a family man who loved his family just as much as they all loved him. He was a fine man, with strong faith, good sense of humour and a kind heart who would give you his last penny. He will be remembered as a great friend, family member, devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
His family will all miss him dearly, but will treasure his memory forever and know that he will be watching over them from Heaven as he did throughout his life.
Courtesy of The Kerryman Tweet
