Alley, John
June 11, 2013Durrow/Cullohill parish and surrounding parishes were deeply saddened to hear of the death of John Alley, Bishop Wood, Durrow, on Sunday morning June 2 following a long illness suffered with great faith and dignity.
Born in the early 1940s, he was a former principal of The Holy Family boys school in Durrow and John was loved and cherished by his many former pupils and their parents.
The quality of his teaching is proved by the fact that many of his past pupils are in great careers thanks to his dedication and love to teaching.
A excellent sportsman in many different codes, John was a super hurler and won many medals and trophies, a former captain of Abbeyleix Golf Club John won many prizes and praise for his excellent skill on the golf course, John was keen gunman and his eye for the target was always first class.
In later years John became involved with the community council being chairman and secretary for many years, John was the founder member and first chairman of the Parish Lotto.
It later years John lent his talents to the Parkinsons Association of Ireland. Among other activities he helped launch their new penant in 2010.
John attended St Kieran's College in Kilkenny where he played along side the great Eddie Keher to win All-Ireland Honours, An active member of the College's past pupils Union the helped with the publica-
tion of Enda McEvoy's book The Godfather of Modern Hurling (the Father Tommy Maher story).
He lined out for UCD in the Fitzgibbon cup helping them to two titles in the 1960s.
His love for the game of hurling brought John to get involved with the local GAA clubs on and offthe field.
He helped Durrow to their first intermediate championship in the late 1950s. John added a senior championship in when he played for Cullohill in the 1960s.He hurled for Laois for a number of years.
The death of John is a huge loss to the Alley Family and to the community of Durrow. He was held with the greatest of esteem by everyone and came from a family held with high regard in the area.
His death is a huge loss to his loving wife Beatrice (Bea), also a teacher but at Heywood Community School, son Colm, daughters Sinead, Emer, Niamh and Lucy ,brothers Peter,
Pat and Ger, sister Josie, ten grandchildren, extended family, nieces, nephews, cousins and a huge circle of friends.
John passed away in the loving care of the nurses and staff of St James's Hospital, Dublin, He was reposed at his residence.
The huge attendance at his wake, removal to the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Durrow on Monday night and funeral Mass and burial on Tuesday was a testament to the high regard everyone had
for the Late John and to offer to Bea and her family their heart felt sympathy at their great loss.
A guard of Honor was given to John by Harps GAA Club, Durrow Parish Lotto and Durrow Community Council and by Abbeyleix Golf Club on Monday night.
Sincerest sympathy to the Alley family. "Ar Deis go raibh ainm"
Courtesy of The Leinster Express
11th June 2013 Tweet
