Harte, Willie
February 05, 2011On October 5, 2010 the community of Kildimo was shocked to hear of the sudden death of their esteemed elder citizen, Willie Harte.
The unpleasant discovery was made by Albert Lawlor who arrived that morning to read the ESB meter. Since the passing of his wife Nano (nee Fitzgerald) only twenty months previously, Willie's life had a gaping chasm that only death would fill. Their marriage of 73 years is now sealed forever to the comfort of his family and friends. While Nano was also in her 96th year, Willie was within a month of the same age and for him this was all passed without recourse to any help from medical science.
The late Willie was born in Askeaton in 1914, into a family of four brothers and three sisters of whom two brothers and one sister survive. Like his peers at the time, he left school after primary level and worked for a variety of farmers. In the employment of the Smith family in Stonehall House, he met Nano and their wedding took place in the Church of St John the Baptist in Kilcornan. In common with the times of the 1930s, the young couple returned to work that same day an set up in a rented home in Kilmacat. When the house became available in Ballynacarriga, they moved scarcely a mile to where they were to spend their entire married life. It was here that their two sons Patsy and Michael were born and also daughter Mary.
No stranger to hard work, Willie rose to ganger level in the County Council roads division, following which he followed many another to take up employment in the Cement Factory in Mungret. Up to his final years and after he retired from the factory, he was always on hand to help neighbours who needed any small building jobs.
His robust health ensured that no task was likely to daunt him. He still found time at home to cultivate his flower and vegetable gardens and keep chickens and ducks with the help of Nano. He was very attached to his dog who stayed with him until the end.
An enduring interest of Willie's was in hurling with the local club, a love he passed on to his two sons. The proudest moment of his long hurling career was gaining victory over our eastern neighbours in the city final replay of 1958. On that occasion having his two sons Patsy and Michael on the same team, which by any record must be a justifiable reason for his pride, enhanced the win. Rivalry with the Ballybrown club was a daily source of banter among the workmates at the factory and Willie never lost an opportunity to remind his Ballybrown daughter-in-law of their win in 1958.
The strong constitution and good health of Willie was marked by his heading a unique Harte dynasty reaching to five generations through his son Patsy and four through Michael. In all he leaves 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. In a heartfelt tribute to the grandparents whom they visited every Sunday morning when Nano insisted on their having 'proper food' for their nurture, a tradition that continued with the help of his daughter mary until his death.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated in the Church of St Joseph, Kildimo on October 7th 2010 by Fathers Donworth, PP and Frs McIntyre and Loftus of the Salesian Community and Fr Sean Stokes was a former hurling team mate of Willie's. Interment took place beside his wife in Kilcornan graveside within sight of the church in which they wed and near Old Stonehall where their happy alliance began. Kildimo GAA Club members provided a guard of honour at his funeral and his coffin was draped in the blue and white which he wore with pride and distinction for his adopted parish.
Ni imithe uainn ach imithe romhainn.
Willie Harte ; died October 5 2010.
-Michael O'Halloran
Courtesy of the Limerick Leader
5th February 2011. Tweet
