Kilkelly and East Mayo bade a fone farewell to one of its best known residents in recent days. Stephen Tarpey was a legendary character in this region of Mayo and his passing, a few days short of his 89th birthday, closes a chapter on the community and business life of his beloved Kilkelly.
His son Declan, speaking at the end of the Requiem Mass in Kilkelly Church on Thursday, drew many smiles and much laughter when he told the congregation: "He was married for 60 years, he drank for 50 years, he gambled for 60 years, he smoked for 75 years ... and he still had no vices!"
Stephen and Peggy ran a popular grocery business in The Square. Today, their son Kieran and his wife Bernie manage the business that has catered for thousands of people year and year down through the decades.
Sport played a central part in Stephen's life. In former times, he was a leading figure in Mayo GAA circles and was a selector with the Mayo team that won the All Ireland minor title back in 1966 during which time he was also secretary of the County Minor Board. He was hugely involved with the Aghamore club in those years and trained a number of teams in the club in Mayo county titles.
Racing was another passion and he attended meetings in various parts of Ireland on a regular basis. He had a special love for Cheltenham and attended the famous Cotswold venue thirteen years in a row. On one occasion some years ago, he was famously featured on BBC television singing When Irish Eyes Are Smiling after a victory by an Irish horse. A newspaper article the following week bore the headline: Stephen sings to millions!
An accomplished golfer, he was a long-time member of Ballyhaunis Golf Club where he made numerous friends. Those who knew Stephen well were also aware of his great love for opera music. He was a good friend of the late Tommy O'Brien from Clonmel ("Good evening, listeners") who presented a long-running programme on Radio Eireann called Your Choice and Mine.
His record collection was among his prized possessions. An advertisement in the Evening Herald back in the 1970s led to Stephen placing a reserve bid of £30 on a mouse-trap signed by Agatha Christie. He was more than surprised to get a call from Sotherby's some days later to say that his bid had been accepted and he was now the proud owner of the mouse trap. The story got wonderful mileage in the local and national press.
Large crowds attended the funeral ceremonies with many calling to the family home and to the removal ceremony from the Marian Funeral Home in Knock to Kilkelly Church where Fr Padraig Costello fondly recalled Stephen's great devotion to the Aghamore team in former years. Fr John Maloney was the chief celebrant at the Requiem Mass on Thursday. Interment took place in Culmore Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife Peggy and family, Mary, Stephen, Connie, Declan, Sean and Kieran, sons-in-law Mick and Tony, daughters in-law Veron and Bernie, grandchildren Ruth, Mikey, Julianne, Katie, Sorcha, Brian and Conor, relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Mayo News, December 21st 2013 Tweet

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