The death of Mary Curley on 27th April brought a peaceful end to a rich and full life lived in her beloved Tallow. Closely assocated with the Tallow community through the church, the GAA club and the senior citizens outings, she was a graceful and serene presence in the town all her life.

Born Mary Ahern in 1926 in Camphire, her family say that her schooldays were full of joy and happiness, walking to school in innocent, carefree days and enjoying a fulfilling education. She arrived in Tallow in her late teens and romance beckoned when her sister Kitty cajoled her into accompanying her on a double date. Kitty had her sights set on Paddy 'Dude' McCarthy and Mary found herself chatting to his friend, Patrick Curle. Serendipity intervened and more dates followed, culminating in Mary's marraige to Patrick in 1945.

Visiting the Curley household some days after her death, I was struck by the wide and varied range of her interests and pursuits. One of her primary love was dancing, which she practiced with skill and enthusiasm. Her daughters Ann and Sheila recall her often telling of the soldiers who came to camp in Lismore (when she was growing up in Camphire) and how they could dance with a grace that befitted their uniform. She was an elegant dancer at any wedding, dinner dance or social event and Dinny Cunningham was her favourite dance partner, one who could match her step for step.

She was an active member of Tallow Senior Citizens and accompaned them on many happy outings to surrounding towns and villages where there was always a game of cards, bingo, music and of course 'dancing. John William McCarthy was a regular card partner and anybody taking on these two usually met their match. Music was a constant in her house and as far as she was concerned, there was only one King and that was Elvis. Indeed, as her son Johnny told me, as she was weakening in her last weeks, the sound of Elvis drifting out from her bedside was a constant companion. She was a huge tennis fan and Johnny intrigued me by revealing that her tennis hero was not the elegant Borg or the flamboyant McEnroe but the dogged, determined and powerful Pete Sampras.
Mary Curley's house was at the centre of Tallow in more ways than one. With fourteen children and countless friends there was an open door policy in the house at all times and the sound of a boiling kettle was the soundtrack. People would call at all times to discuss and reveal local and national news. This was never more true than around the third of September every year, Tallow Horse Fair day. It was a favourite time of Mary's and the house would be alive from dawn to dusk with excitement, news and people. Her son Philly showed me a poem that she composed in honour of the fair day and it had a rhythm and lyricism to match the day itself.

Her faith also played a huge part in her life and her family spoke warmly of the compassion and kindness shown to her by former Tallow PP Fr Michael Farrell, especially in her latter days. He was also, more importantly, a source of match tickets for Waterford games through the years and he never failed to call to the house on the Thursday or Friday night with the previous tickets in his possession. A devout woman, she never left Mass without meeting and shaking hands with the priest, proving that the Church is at its best when it is for the people.

An appreciation of Mary Curley wouldn't be complete without mention of the role of the GAA in her life. Vice president of Tallow GAA club until her death, her family and children were synonymous with Tallow GAA for the past 50 years. A skilled camogie player, her greatest achievement was in winning a county junior camogie medal with Tallow on August 25th 1971 at the age of 45, accompanied by her daughters Ann, Mary and Bridget. All of her children were involved in Tallow teams over the years with three of her sons Paul, Philly and Connie playing at senior level for Waterford, proving the horseracing truism that the talent comes from the dam. Most recently her grandson Aaron has broken on to the Tallow senior hurling team and looks set for a long future there. In her years of watching her sons and grandsons playing she was always calm on the sideline and was never known to raise her voice or get over-excited during a game, which must be a record for a GAA mother!

Mary travelled near and far to Waterford games and enjoyed her happiest time as a Waterford supporter when Waterford re-emerged as a hurling force in 1998. The All Ireland semi-final of that year as her first time in Dublin but the capital saw plenty of Mary in the following years as she became well aquainted with Croke Park and attended the All-Ireland final in 2008. Ken McGrath and Dan Shanahan were her favourite players and her family cannot speak highly enough of the kindness shown to her by the big Lismore man. He gave her his Munster final jersey for her 80th birthday and it still has price of place in the home.
Her family would like to express their appreciation to all those who called, rang, and sent cards or flowers following her passing. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam.

- Courtesy of The Avondhu, 2nd June 2011 Tweet

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