The late Jimmy Graven Jimmy Graven, who died suddenly at his some in Poole, Dorset, England was a native of Leitir in Islandeady. He had lived in England for the past 46 years and had settled in Poole after time spent in Camden Town and Oxford. Though Jimmy lived in England for over half of his life, he never forgot his roots, particularly, Islandeady where in the later years of his life he visited frequently and stayed in the home that he had built there over twenty years ago. Jimmy was a remarkably popular man and it was no surprise that huge crowds attended, firstly in Poole Church and later on arrival home in Islandeady where he was buried after Funeral Mass in Islandeady Church. Though a proud Irishman, who was active in promoting Irish affairs in the Polle community, Jimmy also immersed himself in the ways of life in England and he acquainted himself with the ways of life in his adopted country. He was an instrumental in settling up the Irish Society in the Poole/Bournemouth area and was the driving force behind the foundation of the Southern Gaels GAA Club. He was so proud of his club's achievement, not just when they were winning titles, but the way the club provided a sporting outlet for the growing numbers of young Irishmen who found themselves living in the South of England. Speaking at his Mass in Islandeady, his eldest son, Jim, told the congregation that while his father was a proud Irishman and he loved everything about the country, he loved his native place of Islandeady above everything else. "Even though he was far always, he always kept in touch. For years there were few phones but through letters and his subscription to the Connaught Telegraph he made sure that he knew what was going on in Islandeady. "He was a modest man who never forgot his roots. There were no pretenses about Dad. He never judged people. He was honest, decent and principled. He welcomed people into his home, he was warm, wanted people to relax and he loved the caric. Probably, the phrase we have heard the most since Dad died had been that he was a real gentleman and a great man. "Dad will be greatly missed by Mum, his children, grandchildren, daughters in law and son in law as well as family and friends in Islandeady. He led a wonderful life and gave so much to so many and we will use your life as an example of how to live ours. We will always look to your memory for guidance, wisdom and comfort." Huge crowds attended the removal of his remains from his home in Islandeady to the local church and afterwards to the burial at the local cemetery. His nephew, Fr Gerard burns, celebrated funeral Mass. He is survived by his wife, Ann; sons, Jim, Richard, Michael; daughter, Maria; daughters in law, Dipika, Cath and Clarie; son in law, Mark; grandchildren, Henry, Amy, Jimmy, Ciara, Francesca, Ronan, Carrig, Sean and Aidan. Courtesy of The Mayo News 11 October 2006 Tweet

Most Read Stories