Death of Phil Carolan

One of nature's gentlemen and a long time friend of my own people ,the Mac Cormack's of Churchtown ,passed to his eternal reward on the 19th February 2012 .I met the man on the way into Dunderry Mass only recently and was surprised how well he looked for a man of his age.As far as I know he was in his 89th year and he was in great form that evening.He admitted to talking the farming side of life less seriously these past few years.His farm nearly mearned my people's land and never a cross word passed between the two families over two lifetimes.
He was a native of Rathmore and his brother Johnny often sheared sheep for my uncles in days of yore. He was as cracked about football as my uncles were and many's the conversation they had about times gone,when I think Rathmore had a football team.I know Johnny played but am unsure whether Phil and Paddy did.
They all had the reputation of being fierce hard workers and as decent as the day is long,a reputation that was well deserved.Anyone who lived on or near the bog were well used to hardship and ordinary work was a doddle by comparison.A very good friend recently recounted a true story about the sort of hard workers the Carolans were.Forty years ago a friend of mine while  putting  up a hayshed for one of their neighbours ,set the steel pillars in concrete and went off for a week to complete other works.The neighbour was admant that the pillars had to be a certain height but no higher.It was agreed that when my friend returned the matter could be resolved by cutting back any excess height with tools made for the job.He returned ahead of schedule to witness Johnny cutting through the last pillar with a hacksaw.Can you imagine the sweat and energy expended in this task.Try one pillar yourself and see how long it takes.The height was guaged by measuring how high Johnny could throw up a forkful of hay with a pitchfork as Johnny always threw up the hihger forkfulls..
I had the very great pleasure of drinking with Johnny,Paddy and Tommy Mac Cormack in Athboy a number of years ago.It was one of the most memorable and pleasant nights of my life as the breath of knowledge ,experience and pure goodness that emerged that night was awesome.Tghey were very well read and had huge experience of life's foibles.
I never drank with Phil and don't know if he did drink.Rumour has it that himself and his wife used slip up to a certain Navan establishment of a Saturday for a dance and a bottle of stout.This I cannot confirm but suspect it is true. I never saw him in a public house and strongly suspect that he imbibed very little ,if at all..He did however defy medical science in another way as he reached that great age having smoked 40 fags a day since the age of fourteen,as far as I know.
To pass the yard would give you an idea of the type of farmer he was.The round bales in the hay shed would be stored in absolute symmetry.Every thing in its place.He was a man who did not carry much weight and no grudges.I have a fair idea that a bull of mine went walkabouts a number of years ago and left his calling card with a few of his heifirs.Not a word from him about it .I hope the progeny did well for him.He was a good bull.
I would say that he hadn't an enemy in the world .
He will be sadly missed by his sons Hubert and Phil and daughters Deirdre and Mary and his very loving and distraught wife Eileen,his grandchildren ,nephews and nieces ,neighbours ,a wide circle of friends and the wider community.
His son Hubert would be well known to the Gaels of Meath as a former umpire for his neighbour Paddy Kavanagh and older Dunderry  residents would remember  his daughter Deirdre (Smtyh) well.
His grandson Alan Watters is a well respected member of Dunderry GAA club,having recently arrived from Simonstown.
The Church in Boyerstown was overflowing for his funeral and I believe that the house of his son Hubert ,where he was waked, was full to capacity at all times when he was in repose.
Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam dilis.