The late Teresa Shanahan A native of Sandymount Dublin 4, Teresa Shanahan (nee Laffan) passed to her eternal reward at the Bon Secours Hospital, Tralee surrounded by her family on January 6th, 2007. She was born in March, 1933 and was the only child of the late Matthew Joseph Laffan of Laois and Peg Collins of Currow. She completed both her primary and secondary education in Dublin and then qualified as a legal secretary, a career she enjoyed for many years. It was her work colleagues in Dublin that she was introduced to the world of amateur drama when she joined the Fr Matthew Players in Dublin. Her secretarial work brought her to work in Valenita Island at one time in her life, a place which always held fond memories for Teresa. In the days before computers Teresa was always willing to compete forms and write letters for any one in the parish who required such assistance. As a child with her mother she enjoyed yearly trips to Currow and in later years made the journey on her own. It was on one such trip that she met her future husband Bertie. They both moved to England in 1956 for one year before returning to marry at Curran's Church. They were blessed with three daughters. Teresa was a very active member of the community which she adopted as her home. She was a founding member of the Parish Council. As a member of the Parish Council. As a member of the tidy town's group led by Fr Michael Murphy, who was curate at the time, she took part on a regular basis in the cleaning of the village. She was instrumental in organising Irish dancing classes for the children of the parish and was known to open her home to practice sessions before the children took part in feis competitions. In a time when women were not actively involved in the GAA, she was proud of the fact that she became the first woman secretary of the Currow GAA club, a post she held with distinction. However it is for her life long involvement with drama that she will be remembered most. She was a cast member of the original drama group who toured the county in the 1950's to fundraise for the building of the present church in Carrow. In the 1970's Fr Tom Hickey PP (now retired) came to the parish as curate and Teresa's interest in drama and once again reawakened and Na Compainigh were formed. She spent many happy nights rehearsing for shows at the old library and took to the stage each time of asking, either as MC or performing in tops of the parish, or the tips of the towns competition. She enjoyed many successful years performing material written especially for the group an always held fond memories for the group all over the country and on one occasion to a drama festival in the Isle of Man. However, her biggest challenge was to learn her lines as Gaeilge when the group were to take part in the Oirachtas finals in Gweedore, Donegal. She delighted in the fact the group won four All-Ireland awards for their performances in Irish and three in English. Along with performing Teresa held the position of secretary and stage director for the drama group. When Fr Tom Hickey was asked by the Presentation Sisters to commemorate the life of their foundress Nano Nagle, she was again stage director. Teresa had a lifelong devotion to her patron St Therese, she was a woman of deep faith. This was symbolised during the Offertory procession at her funeral mass when the gifts brought to the altar by her three daughters included the bread and wine for her faith, some copies of plays to represent her love of drama and a circle of yellow roses to acknowledge her friendships and great love for the community that surrounded her everyday. By her daughters and her grandchildren she will be best remembered for her unconditional love. And as a woman who welcomed every one to her home with a cup of tea no matter what the hour. The esteem with which she was held in Carrow was evident by the huge attendance at the removal of her remains from her family home and at her funeral and internment beside Bertie in St Michael's Cemetery, Killeentierna. Currow GAA club acknowledged their first secretary by providing a guard of honour for her funeral cortege, a tribute last given by the club to her late husband Bertie, who predeceased her 15 months ago. Teresa is survived by her heartbroken and devoted daughters Patricia, Dolores and Elizabeth, her six grandchildren, sons in law, brothers in law, extended family and wide circle of friends who all deeply mourn her passing. Ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam Dillis. Courtesy of The Kerryman 14 February 2007 Tweet

Most Read Stories