The late Mossy Walsh The town of Listowel had the sad fate of saying a fond farewell to one of its own when Mossy Walsh passed away after a long and rich life. The love and affection in which he was held was to be seen in the turnout at his funeral where all walks, young and old, came out to say their goodbyes to a dear friend. He may have passed in but he left a million memories behind. The youngest son of Maurice and Hannah Walsh, Mossy was born on September 24th, 1928. Market Street was where he would call home with his brothers Patsy and Timmy and sister Peggy. It was here that the family ran a grocery shop which some time later would be taken up by Mossy's brother, Patsy and his wife Chris. He was educated firstly at the Boys National School and later would go on to further his schooling at St Michaels and the Cistercian College in Roscrea. It was there in his teenage years he found the love of his live and his future wife, Kathleen Lynch. From the beginning they forged a devotion and friendship that lasted. Their wedding day was fittingly the first that the Black Valley church would witness on the 27th August. 1955, a day they treasured just last year at their 50th Wedding anniversary in the treasured company of family and friends. Starting out together and with a family of their own very much in their hopes and dreams, Mossy knew well his obligations to provide for those he loved so dearly and it would bring him to all corners of the country later on when he was working as a confectionery rep. The working life for him began at Kellihers Hardware in Tralee before moving on to O'Sullivans in Ballylongford. It was at this point that he got his break, when he gained as a much coveted position as a company rep for Oatfield Confectionery and Tennant and Ruttle. In this role he covered the Munster area and through his many years working for them, became a well liked and respected member of the business community. Nonetheless Kathleen was the mainstay in his life and soon they were blessed with five children. He loved each of them dearly and took a keen interest in everything they did, even if - especially in the younger years- their youthful activity did not always please him, he remained so resolutely proud of them. Mossy would spend much of his spare time working in the family business, Lynch's Bar, where, of course the twin pillars of our civilisation would be discussed, football and politics. In both he had an avid supporter of Fine Gael throughout his life. The annual pilgrimage was made to Croke Park and locally he played with Listowel Emmets, the Gleann and for a time played with Kerins O'Rahillys in Tralee. He loved to travel, and did so extensively with Kathleen, taking in Europe and America before gladly availing of a free travel pass when he turned 66, putting it to good use in his rambles around the country. Yet no matter where he went, he found friends waiting and it was aptly said on his passing that when he left your company in Lynch's he took the light with him too. Mossy is lovingly survived by his wife Kathleen and his children; Maurice, Jack, Miriam, Patricia, Paddy, his 11 loving grandchildren and his brother Patsy and sister Peggy. He is predeceased by his brother Timmy, who passed away in 1976. Courtesy of The Kerryman 16 March 2006 Tweet

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