The late Maisie Condon, Callan, was most proud of her wonderful family

One of Callan’s finest citizens bade farewell to family, friends and neighbours on July 3, in the company of her truly remarkable family in St Luke’s Hospital. Maisie Condon had paid her entry fees to heaven many times over during a life that was not always a stroll in the Park, or as she oft times said to me “a bed of roses”.

Raised in Ballymack, her parents, Thomas and Elizabeth worked hard - like all parents at the time. Maisie’s parents led a life sustained by the produce of the land and the keeping of farm animals, a life rooted in resourcefulness, and perseverance.

That spirit followed Maisie all her life. Like most people, life threw many curved balls in their direction. While many submerged under the weight of family demands, Maisie Condon with her husband Richie batted them to the boundaries of their domain and would not allow anything or anyone dare attempt to threaten what they had worked hard for all their lives on the Clonmel Road. Maisie was tough when she needed to be. She was a proud lady and never was that element of her life more pronounced than when it came to her terrific family.

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Born in Ballymack, Maisie was one of a family of six, three brothers Liam, Mick and Tommy and two sisters, Alice and Leysha. All but Tommy and Leysha have predeceased Maisie.

The family were steeped in hurling. Mick was an outstanding hurler with Kilkenny and Leinster in the 50s, winning an All-Ireland Final in ’57 – the “Rooney Year”, and Railway Cup medals with Leinster.

Maisie married Richie in the late 40s and they had a family of four boys - Eamon, Tony (a minor All Ireland runner-up with Kilkenny in 1950, beaten by Cork), Milo and Richie, and three girls - Kathleen (Freaney), Betty (Power) and Mary (Leahy), all of whom were exemplary citizens of decency, respect, kindness and hard work; qualities of life instilled in them through their parents.

Maisie and Richie were proud of their children. Happier still were they when 19 grandchildren were added to the Condon family tree and when the 25 great grandchildren were added to the clan they were euphoric, although Christmas dinner was somewhat chaotic at times, or so Maisie told me once.

In her poignant eulogy at Maisie’s Requiem mass, Mary referred to her mam’s strength, independence, determination and her rock- solid opinions. She said that ‘we loved the bones of her. We loved her courage.’ She said that they (her family) were very proud of her and their dad Richie.

Maisie lived a long life of quiet strength, a generous heart and a deep love of her family. She didn’t just pass through life, she shaped it, and for all who knew her she will never be far away.

During her full life of over nine decades, Maisie Condon was involved in a wide raft of social activities. She was a member of the Callan Parish choir for a good number of years, with members like Paddy Stapleton, Patsy Hogan, Mary Barry, Anna Nolan, conductor Sr Sheila and organist Michael Hayes, most of whom she has joined in the Heavenly hosts of choirs.

An enormous crowd of sympathisers attended Maisie’s obsequies in her parish church on Sunday, July 6. A Guard of Honour, formed by the Parish Choir and members of the various Clubs and Societies she was associated with, flanked Maisie’s cortege from the church to her residence on the Clonmel Road. Her Requiem was celebrated by Parish Priest, Fr Willie Dalton, and concelebrated by Fr Jim Green. She was interred beside her husband, Richie, in Kilbride Cemetery.

Maisie’s passing brings much sadness and sorrow for her four sons, Eamonn, Tony, Milo and Richie, her daughters, Kathleen Freaney, Betty Power, and Mary Leahy. Her daughters-in-law, Kathleen, Margo, Jean and Josephine and her sons-in-law Noel, Ollie and John. Her 19 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren will miss their Nanny too, of that you can be assured.

Her brother Tommy and sister, Laoise will remember their sister with great kindness and a great sense of loss. Maisie had an enormous diary of great friends, neighbours and acquaintances by virtue of the fact that she was very much an integral part of a very wide Callan community. They will miss the genial, neighbourly, charismatic, lady who brought so much light and enjoyment into their lives.

As Mary said “We were blessed with our Mam and Dad. Blessed that they belonged to us. Blessed too that we belonged to them”.
What a way to complete an obituary.
BH