The late William Tooher It was American Independence Day 4th July when people came from the four corners of the parish of Kilcolman and from neighbouring counties to bid their farewell to William Tooher. Born on the 1st January, 1912 into the family farm in Dromoyle, as was his father and his father's father, and also as was his son and his son's son, the family are entwined in the history and folklore of that townland. Educated at Fortal NS William was affectionately known as Willie or Bill. His life was a long one in which he enjoyed great health. His was a very active life of work, sport and community. He was always to the forefront and ready and willing to provide leadership. Willie grew up in difficult times. Farming in those years was labour intensive with plenty of hard work from binding corn to saving hay, to cutting and wheeling turf, not to mention the ploughing and tiling when a man would walk from morning to evening over rough ground. This was especially difficult during the days of Lent when the man was observing the Church teaching of one full meal and two collations. Willie was one of those, a noted ploughman who undertook that penance each year. Willie had a great gra for the land and farmed it to perfection but than any task he undertook in life was completed to the highest standard, he had little tolerance for shoddy work. He was also a noted stockman and would never purchase an animal unless in his own words 'it was even, square and right.' Willie occasionally spoke with regret of the circumstances that prohibited him marrying his wife Ciss as early in life as he would have wished, but was never slow to thanks God for the long happy life they had together and the blessing of a son and a daughter. Unfortunately he will not be around to share Ciss's 90th birthday on 19th July. Willie had many crosses to carry in life, the death of two brothers in their twenties, of a married sister Josie in her forties, but the tragedy that was the greatest test of his faith and stamina was the death of his son John at 42 years. He kept his strength and his faith and during the following years did his utmost to assist John's wife Brigid and his seven grand-children and took pride as he saw each of them have their own achievements and mature into adulthood. Willie was a noted hurler and won four Offaly senior hurling championships in the late thirties and early forties wearing the No 7 jersey with distinction. It together with the Coolderry flag was draped over his coffin as he arrived back to his native church. He also played an administration role in the club in years gone by and trained the senior team in 1969 when they narrowly lost the county final to Kinnitty. Willie's leading role in parish affairs over the years was recognised by a guard of honour provided by present and past members of the parish council as his remains approached St Colman's Church. Willie was a deeply religious man with great belief in God and his Blessed Mother and who would never miss daily prayers and the rosary. He also had great respect for other religions and counted among his best friends, people from other denominations, many of whom were present at his removal and Funeral Mass and burial. His Requiem Mass was concelebrated by Fr Blake P.P. Kilcoman, Fr O'Donoghue AP, Coolderry, Fr Bergin, AP Shinrone, Fr McCormack and Fr Stapleton family friends, in a church filled to capacity with a magnificent choir and active participation in the liturgy by his daughter Mary and his ten grandchildren. Willie lived life to the full enjoying all aspects of rural life and the social drink and chat, be it after Coolderry's hurling victories in Molloy's after a fair/mart in Maura Hogan's or in latter years in the Blackbull with his neighbour and great friend Jim O'Meara. He was noted for his decency on these occasions and his company was valued for the years of knowledge he shared. He will be sadly missed by his wife Ciss, his daughter Mary, his daughter in law Brigid, his son in law Martin, his sisters Monica (Connery) Kathleen (Hanly) and his ten grandchildren, his cousin, nieces, nephews and wide circle of friends. May the clay of his native parish of St Colman rest gently on his remains and may he rest in peace. Ni feicimid de leithdeadaris. Go ndeana Dia Trocaire ar a anam dilis. Courtesy of the Midland Tribune July 2003 Tweet

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