Shanahan, Margaret
August 31, 2003
The Late Margaret Shanahan
We are a strange race of people in that we tend to have more respect for the dead than the living.
Most obituaries refer to the fact that deceased was a member of an old and highly respected family, a wonderful neighbour and a brilliant sportsman or woman.
It would be much nearer the truth if the death report said that the family was full of scallywags, that he or she would begrudge a neighbour a bowl of sugar and that his or her sporting prowess was mainly confined to playing cards.
In the case of my sister-in-law Margaret Shanahan (39) who died suddenly on wednesday I have no problem in overusing superlatives and singing her praises. You don't have to think up nice things to say about Mags. Her life and times were full of goodness, laden with charity. She oozed energy and her bubbly disposition made community work or fundraising that little bit easier for her fellow committee members.
The Haltigan Terrace woman had many loves in life. She loved Radio Kilkenny, she loved the Kilkenny hurlers, especially D.J. Carey and Eddie Brennan, she loved her involvement with the St Patrick's Parish Lourdes Invalid Committee and she loved the Catholic Church.
She was a member of St Patricks Parish Liturgy Team and only days before her sudden death she had read at Mass in St Patrick's Church. She also read at St Fiacre's. She was also a Eucharistic Minister in St Patrick's and St Fiacre's churches.
Margaret was seldom ill. She was too busy to be sick.
And while she worked tirelessly for others, at the end of the day she always returned home to the No 1 love of her life, her mother Peggy.
The second youngest of the Shanahan family was not just Peggy Shanahan's beloved daughter, she was her best friend too, her confidante, the woman who for years said good night mam, God bless, see you in the morning.
Those were Margaret Shanahan's final words as she retired to bed on Tuesday night. Sadly they were to be her last.
Margaret died as she had lived, without fuss, peaceful and with real dignity.
Her death at such a young age came as a huge shock to her family and friends.
No one could believe that Mags would never roll a wheelchair, sell a ticket for a parish concert, read at Sunday Mass or give out about the fact that Radio Kilkenny was to lose it's licence.
Croke Park would never be the same. Mags was preparing for the big match. She absolutely adored hurling and the Kilkenny hurlers, D.J., Eddie, Henry, etc.
She would have been so proud of the fact that a hurley autographed by the Kilkenny senior squad and a black and amber jersey were included in the Offertory gifts.
Presented too was a CD by Dominic Kirwan, a radio and her prayer book.
Margaret enjoyed life, a country and western concert, Johnny Barry on local radio, a night out with her great friend Ann Marie Manogue.
Margaret was the 'driver' as Ann Marie and her wheelchair headed for a city function.
Two nights before her death she had enjoyed a night with cousins and friends at the Village Inn.
Sadly, only days later, family and friends recalled the life and times of Margaret Shanahan at the James Stephens GAA Club to celebrate the truly magnificent years of a woman who left an honourable legacy to the parish of St Patrick.
Her deeds are not recorded in "tar and cement" but her ability to build bridges and foster friendships between communities and community groups will always be remembered.
At her Requiem Mass in St Patrick's Church, Parish Team Leader Fr Dan Carroll referred to her good works and spoke of the shock felt by her untimely death.
Bishop Forristal attended the removal of the remains from Hehir's Funeral Home to St Patrick's. Mags would have liked that.
There too were many clergy, several of whom were involved in parish work with Margaret.
Colleagues and friends from Radio Kilkenny formed a guard of honour at the removal of the remains. Mags would have approved. She was buried in Foulkstown cemetery with her father Tom. Two great pals in life were now united in death.
Peggy Shanahan and her family will find it hard to come to terms with the death of the single young woman who put the troubles and needs of friends and neighbours before her own wants.
She may never have scored the winning point in Croke Park or collected the McCarthy Cup but she was a real champion of her people, a friend in the true meaning of the word, a woman who probably couldn't even spell selfishness or greet, and certainly wouldn't have wanted to.
In losing a friend on earth we have gained a pal in Heaven.
Pity poor St Peter, he will certainly get an earful about hurling right up to the All-Ireland final against Cork.
Margaret is survived by her mother Peg; brothers Noel, Michael and Thomas; sisters Ann, Mary, Ber; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
I thought it would be difficult to write this tribute to my friend. But truly it wasn't.
Simply because, like everyone else in St Patrick's Parish and far beyond, I loved her.
Courtesy of the Kilkenny People, August, 2003.
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