The death took place recently of Michael John Prendergast, Malahide, Co. Dublin and formerly of Mace, Claremorris. He was a brother of Paddy ( Padraig) Prendergast who resides in Mace.
Michael John spent around 15 years working in Birmingham area after emigrating from his native Mayo. It was there he met his wife to be, Eileen McCool from Buncrana in Co. Donegal. On returning to Ireland, they settled in Malahide where they resided for the past 38 years. They quickly made themselves at home in this part of north Co. Dublin and made many great friends in the decades since them.
Michael John retained a great love of his native Mayo. He went to school in Murneen and finished his primary school education in Ballyfarna NS. Before leaving for England, he learned his carpentry trade serving his time in Jack Merrick's in Mount Street, Claremorris along with a number of others including Sean Hunt from Barnacarroll.
It was a profession at which he excelled and he was much in demand for the quality of his work. Michael John took a gentle pride in a job well done. He was the epitome of reliability and dependability and was hugely respected throughout his local community in Dublin.
A big GAA man, he was a loyal member of he local St Sylvester's GAA Club in Malahide. He followed the ups and downs of Mayo football all his life and loved to see them come to Croke Park whatever the grade. Always aware that Dublin had been good to him too, he was a strong supporter of the Dublin teams and attended many of their games in Croke Park down through the years.
Heading down to Mayo was always special and he loved to meet up with old friends and neighbours around Mace and Barnacarroll, Knock, Claremorris and Kiltimagh. He had a special fondness for Knock Shrine and always called there on his trips down West.
Many neighbours from the general Barnacarroll are travelled to Malahide for the funeral Mass. "We are very grateful to all who made the long journey from Mayo and did not expect so many people to make the trip to Dublin. All the family very much appreciated the effort made by neighbours back home and we want to thank them sincerely for that," said Paddy Prendergast.
Fr Tommy Commins, PP, Kilkerrin, and a native of Cloonmore, Claremorris, and a second cousin of Michael John, was co-celebrant at the Requiem Mass in Dublin.
Michael John is survived by his wife Eileen and family, Michael, Sally, Geraldine and Kevin, in-laws, grandchildren, brothers Paddy(Mace) and Joe (who came all the way from Australia where he was lived for many years), sisters Eileen Madden (Malahide) and Margaret Walsh (Kilcock), nephews,nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Courtesy of the Mayo News
12th April 2011 Tweet

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