Walsh, Nicholas
November 13, 2009Killahy and Woodsgift
The sudden and untimely death, last February, of our dear friend, Nicholas Walsh, was a major shock to the local community and wider hinterland of Woodsgift, and indeed to all those who knew him. Even now, several months later, it is still hard to comprehend the reality of his death at the prime of his life. Even though we can only begin to imagine the grief felt by his own family, we all feel pain at the loss of his friendship. He was one of life's great characters.
Nicky was born in September 1957 to Jimmy Walsh and Julia Cruite in the town land of Killahy between Graine and Tullaroan. He was the youngest of a family of six, one girl and five boys. He began his education at Graine National School and from an early age was involved in working the family farm alongside his father and brothers. His father, Jimmy, was gifted with his hands and extremely meticulous about maintenance and repair work to either buildings or implements on the farm. These were skills Nicholas inherited and throughout his life he displayed a great ability with machinery and a love of all things mechanical. In later years, he also turned his hand to building and construction, the entrance gates to the lovely Aglish Cemetery are testament to his masonry skills.
His secondary education was at the CBS in James' Street, Kilkenny, and it was here that Nicky developed his great love of sport, particularly hurling for which he had a great passion through-out his life. After completing his Leaving Certificate in 1975, he spent a year at Kildalton Agricultural Collage before settling into farming life at home in Killahy.
It was at this stage that Nicky took an important step of joining the local 'Macra na Feirme' club at Grange, where he became one of its leading lights, as well as meeting a lot of new friends whose loyalty he retained for the rest of his life. Nicky's great abilities and competitive instinct made for an instant success at all manner of competition, be it quizzes, panel speaking, debating or farm tasks. However, in 1979, when Grange entered the National Light Entertainment competition for the first time, Nicky's talent as a comedy actor became apparent. In a show called "Tinker on the Ditch", produced by Willie Egan who had the inspiration to cast Nicky in the leading role, a new star of the stage had been born. He led Grange Macra from the local hall in South Tipperary all the way to the National Final at the Savoy Theatre in Limerick. Even though Grange did not win that final, Nicky's own performance became the stuff of legend. His ability and confidence on the stage were remarkable. His improvisation, facial expression and delivery enthralled audiences throughout the country. In subsequent years, Grange Macra Light Entertainment continued with great success with Nicky always to the fore, culminating in him winning the National Award for Comedy Actor in 1984. A whole generation of us, his contemporaries will never forget the great fun we had participating in those shows and how much it contributed to the quality of our lives at that time.
Somewhere along the line during those years, Nicky met the great love of his life, Bernadette Norton, of Boulea, The Commons who became his lifelong partner when they married in 1988. He added the new role of devote family man and father to his repertoire and with Bernadette raised a family of four, two boys and two girls, of whom he was immensely proud. However, the stage still beckoned and he went on to produce shows for his local pub, "The Valley Inn", which again brought great acclaim, winning the Kilkenny Singing Pubs on several occasions. He will be remembered in particular for his stunning performance along side Anne Teehan of Grange miming to the famous Peter Sellers/Sophie Loren song, "Doctor, I'm in trouble", leaving the original in the shade. His talent at drama was not confined to comedy and he preformed commendably in more serious roles. He is remembered for being outstanding in the 1848 memorial pageant in The Commons in 1998. He subsequently played a couple of roles in the RTE Documentary Drama based on the 1848 rebellion "A Call to Arms".
Nicky had a great love of hurling and all things GAA. He played with Kildalton Collage and his club Emeralds, and proudly joked, that he pulled on a county jersey once, For Tipperary Macra, a fact that pleased his father Jimmy greatly! A very capable hurler, Nicky found a role within the Emeralds club at which he excelled, as a coach and mentor to under age teams. A true club man, over the years he took charge of teams from Under 14 to minor and had standout moments throughout. In 1996, he coached the club minor team to a County Roinn B success as part of a famous under age treble for the club. In 2006, he came within a whisker of repeating this feat when the Emeralds minor lost out narrowly in the Roinn B minor decider. Though victories were many, Nicky's true talent was guiding young players and bonding them together as teams. The young players of the club responded to his way and fulfilled their potential under his guidance. This year, Nicky had begun preparations to manage the Emerald Junior team, a post he agreed to undertake after being approached by that group of players. This was a measure of esteem players held him in.
Another aspect of Nicky's life was his passion for quizzes. Highly knowledgeable on a wide range of subjects, Nicky loved the competitive quiz and testing that knowledge. As well as Macra, he was part of a renowned Scor quiz team for Emeralds that captured a number of County titles. He loved participating in table quizzes and like us all, Nicky loved to win and did so frequently. He was also a gracious loser on the odd occasion it happened.
Nicky was also very much a parish man. He contributed greatly to the publication of "The Happy Valley", a history of the Graine area of Urlingford parish. He was elected to the board of management of Urlingford NS and during this time, he played the role of MC at Urlingford School Concerts, a return to the stage he loved, and the audience loved him. The interval raffle was considered by lost to be another act of the concert such was the fun that Nicky made from his duty as MC.
His work for the school was no surprise as he was a great family man. As much as he contributed to the world around him, family was always his first concern. He was immensely proud of his children and interested in their every activity from hurling and camogie to music, from golf to academic achievement. He enjoyed their successes and was always there to support them when the big game or test arrived.
The final act of Nicky's life was played on a new stage when in 2005; Nicky and Bernadette made the short journey from Killahy to Woodsgift, when they purchased the Woodsgift Service Station. In the short time since, Walsh's of Woodsgift has attracted many customers and everyone who calls is greeted with friendship we all associate with Nicholas and Bernadette. A welcoming smile and often a comic turn was to be had, and always a helping hand. The community knew that Nicky had found a true vocation, in tandem with Bernadette; the business went from strength to strength and is testimony today to the great team who run it.
The attendance over the course of Nicky's funeral was huge, a tribute to a man who was held in huge respect by all who knew him. There were few dry eyes as Canon Dunphy celebrated a lovely requiem Mass in St Patrick's, Graine, yet there were many smiles as happy tales of Nicky were recounted by all and sundry.
To Bernadette, Stephan, Nicholas Junior, Katie and Eliza, to Marie, Charlie, John, Jimmy and Billy, to the extended Walsh and Norton families, our deepest sympathies and continued support.
Do Nioclas uasal, guimid leaba I measc na naomh.
Courtesy of Kilkenny People
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