Michael Walsh, Logatemple, Claremorris, who died recently, was truly one of nature's gentlemen. He spent most of his professional working life in the teaching profession in Kiltimagh,first in the Vocational School and later in the St. Louis Secondary School. But it was his great love for gardening and nature that eventually won out. His heart was always in the great outdoors.
Mick, as he was known to many, was blessed with a serene and tranquil nature.What you saw was what you got. Early mornings had no appeal for Mick. (He would probably have concurred with the Louis Walsh philosophy....'I never answer my phone before midday!")
And it is probably fair to say that he new fashion columns by Kerry football Paul Galvin would not have held much interest for Michael not that he didn't take a keen interest in football....but fashion belonged to another world!
His father Michael, who was railway station master in Hollymount, died when when he was just 10 and his mother Agnes (nee Kelly from Kilmaine), who died just three years ago, took over that position for sometime afterwards. It was a challenging time with six young children.
Michael spent four years working with the Irish Sugar Company in their plants in Tuam, Mallow and Carlow before going to college.
It was while a student doing Agricultural Science in UCD that Mick met his wife to be, Helen Fleury from Kilcormac in Co. Offaly, who was working in the bank in Dublin at the time. She was one of a family of seven, five girls and two boys. The family were steeped in the hurling tradition of Offaly and her first cousin Pat Fleury would later win All Ireland senior glory with the county when they captured the Liam McCarthy Cup in 1981 and 1985.
There was a gentleness to his character that endeared Michael to everyone who ever knew him. The word "panic" did not exist in the lectionary of his life. He was like a softly flowing stream, meandering pleasantly through the meadows of the ages, at ease and content with the world around.
Among the items brought to the altar at the Offertory were symbols which were always at the heart of his life.... a Hollymount football jersey ( he also played club football with Dunshaughlin in Meath), a handball and Mayo Jersey, a pack of cards, a biology book and a plant from the garden.
There was a full congregation in St Colman's Church for the Requiem Mass and Michael would have been chuffed with that. "Me drawing a full house?", you just imagine his disarming smile that struck at the heart of real friendship.
His son Donal, who now a doctor attached to Letterkenny General Hospital, speaking at the end of Mass, captured many of the quintessential traits of his father in a poignant, pensive and humourous reflection on the man he said was known to all as "Mick Welsh".
"There were certain things that Dad loved... my mum, the garden centre, his office (the garage), being outdoors, exercise- from cross country running to Gaelic football as a young 'fella' to handball in later years as well as walking in more recent times, Merrick's (pub) and his many friends there, playing darts, cards and talking about his success story of 'giving up the fags'
"There were certain things that Dad did not love....early mornings, early nights, he always was a bit of night owl, the two days in the year that Merrick's (pub) is closed Christmas Day and Good Friday, "sure wouldn't these two days be better if Merrick's was open", my mum buying him clothes, my mum not buying him clothes.
"I bought a laptop for Dad last summer and introduced him to the internet. He actually took to both of them like a duck to water. With the whole world wide web at his disposal you'll never guess what his first internet search was? The death notices on the MWR website!
"Dad's rules for wearing clothes were: 1 Wear every article of your clothing inside out, socks, hats, jumpers etc with the washing instructions' labels on full display; 2 Wear your best clothes in the garden, and when you do, get them as mucky as you can!
"The garden centre was the ultimate social outlet to Dad. Its main purposes were to have the craic, to make friends and too make people proud of their gardens! The major drawback was the money and having to take it from people. Dad's office was his garage where the poor kettle and radio never got a break!
"Myself and dad had a 'disagreement' the week before I repeated my Leaving Certificate in June 1999. We apologised to each other afterwards. Dad said that he was a little stressed because he was really busy with the summer bedding in the garden. I explained that I was stressed studying so hard to get the high points that I needed. Then dad asked me "What is it that you want

to do anyway?" I couldn't believe that he didn't already know. I told him "I want to be a doctor". I will never forget the look of utter bewilderment that followed on his face. I might as well have said that I was going off on my bicycle to join a tribe in the Amazon jungle! It was a look that said "sure none of us would be good enough to be doing that sort of thing", That was how humble my dad was.
"Most people who called to dad's garden centre did so as much for the chat and the banter as much as they did for the very reasonable priced flowers, shrubs and trees. Dad was not too concerned with the business end of the garden centre. He as far more interested in having the craic, sharing a laugh and getting the best deal that he could for each and every customer.
"He loved the football, the handball, the craic and the banter. And he loved his grand daughter Aoibheann... I never saw Dad happier than when he would play and have fun with our little angle," Donal told the congregation.
Fr Peter Gannon was the chief celebrant at the Requiem Mass and he too paid a lovely tribute to a truly special parishioner. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Mick is survived by his wife Helen, son Donal, daughter-in-law Fionnula (from Gweedore), granddaughter Aoibheann, sisters St Eileen (Tuam and Galway) and Sr Mary (Ballinrobe) and Ann O'Donnell (Clonmel), relatives, neighbours and many friends.
MC

Courtesy of the Mayo News
12th April 2011 Tweet

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