Conway, Eddie
January 24, 2013
Eddie Conway RIP - An Appreciation
It was with immense sadness that people far and near heard of the death of Eddie Conway, Toorbeg,Burncourt, Cahir. The esteem in which Eddie was held was shown by the huge crowds which gathered to pay their respects at his wake and funeral Mass. Testament to his popularity was that such crowds crossed many generations as Eddie was known and well regarded by both young and old who could tell many a story of the chats they had with and advice given by Eddie. It was fitting that Eddie's remains, his coffin draped with the Tipperary flag were escorted from his home on Sunday morning by a guard of honour of Fr Sheehy's GAA members of all ages past and present.
A sentiment echoed by many over the weekend was that the likes of Eddie Conway we will not see again, one of the locality's great characters, a legend in his own lifetime who will be fondly remembered and missed by so many people. Our sincerest and deep felt sympathy to Eddie's dear wife Eily, his sons Eddie, John, Tom, Dave and Jim, his daughters Helen, Mary, Kathleen, Anne, Geraldine, Ailish, Carmel and Fidelma, his sister Kathleen, grandchildren, great grandchild, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and all his relatives, neighbours and many friends. May Eddie's soul rest in peace in the comfort of God's heavenly kingdom.
The following is the eulogy delivered at Eddie's funeral Mass by his youngest son Jim, expressing the sentiments of those who knew him best and loved him dearly.
Born in 1924 to Edmund and Eleanor Conway. The younger of 2 children. His sister Kathleen being older by nearly 2 years. His mother died when he Was 4 and his father died when he was 14. His uncle James, aunt Eleanor, the schoolteacher and aunt Ann (Haneen) helped rear him. I guess that's where his great love of reading came from - the early influence of the teacher.
Growing up dad had a passionate interest in GAA, at local and county level. He was the last surviving member (by 3 weeks) of the glorious 1948 Fr Sheehys junior football team that won county glory for the parish. At a club award's ceremony a few years back, Michael O Muircheartaigh said of dad that his field position was vital to the game where the plan was to "put me on the 40 and build the team around me!". Well it worked! That love and skill on the GAA field is passed on to his children and grandchildren and many more medals have been accumulated at all grades since then.
He happily married - Eily Ryan from Ballyporeen in Feb 1952 (after years of playing another kind of 'field' I'm told!) and settled down to rear 13 children, so we kept the local school and GAA squads going for a while! We had a contented upbringing, reared by our parents, which can't have been easy! Like most at that time, we didn't have a lot but wanted for nothing and I wish to thank both our parents for instilling in us a sense of independence, self-sufficiency and respect of others that has been of benefit to us.
Dad farmed up until his early 80s and when he retired he still oversaw the business, even from his car when his movements were slowing down. I always listened to his sound advice and could sense that he was proud of the farming tradition being upheld. Even early last week he drove over to inspect the first calves born on the farm and report the news back to mam! He was always involved.
Once he retired he had time to focus on his pastime of reading. The home place is packed with various biographies, westerns, fictions and so on, you name it and he read it. He was also a man who fancied a 'drop' -but it never interfered with his job. A man who played hard but worked harder, who was recognised by the hat he wore and in latter years the cane he carried.
As a granddad my father came into his own. He has 35 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild and they were all the apples of his eye as well as of mam's and that love and respect is reciprocated. It is through these children that the goodness and kindness that was Eddie (Ned) Conway, will for- ever be remembered and carried on down through the generations.
My father was a self taught, intelligent, hardworking, compassionate and basically a quiet man. Now a lot of people who first met him thought of him as being 'grumpy' or 'fiery'. However, as you got to know him better you knew that was not the case. Though a handy size man, he always stood up for what he believed to be right and thought us to do the same. He was kind to those who knew him well but didn't suffer fools gladly! He had many friends, both young and old as is evidenced by the large turnout here today to pay their respects.
There is no doubt that mam, my sisters, brothers, grandchildren, great-grandchild, family, friends and I will miss dad dearly and will always remember the values and wisdom he taught us. His passing is the end of an era. I will never forget my father and will make sure that his memory lives on. To, 'The Man with the Hat' I say thank you for everything, God's blessing and look down on us all. And - if you have any influence up there, will you put in a kind word for the Tipperary hurlers in 2013!
Courtesy of The Avondhu.
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