Clarke, Jim
May 03, 2011Leighlinbridge lost one of its genuine characters with the recent passing of James (Jim) Clarke, Carlow Road, who died on Tuesday, 22 March at St Luke's Hospital. Kilkenny.
Aged 71, Jim had been hospitalised two weeks to the day before his death. He had been in failing health for 16 months.
A proud Leighlinbridge man, Jim was one of all family of six- four boys and two girls.
As a teenager, Jim joined the national army, serving for three years in Renmore Barracks, Galway. Subsequently, he moved to England, where he lived and worked for some years before returning home.
In 1970 he married Elizabeth Jackman from Tullow and they had eight children. Tragedy struck for the Clarke family in April 2001 when their youngest son, Eugene was killed in a road traffic accident.
Jim Clarke loved Leighlinbridge and its people. In later life he would sit on the wall at the Lord Bagenal Inn marina beside the River Barrow, where he would meet and converse with people. Throughout his life, Jim had a great love of the Barrow.
He was dedicated to the Leighlin "All Blacks' GAA teams, having played for the club in his younger days. He was an avid follower of Leighlin teams down the years even if, in recent times, he wasn't well enough to attend their games.
He had a tremendous interest in boxing and encouraged his six sons to become involved with the Paulstown Boxing Club.
Possessed of a great sense of humour, Jim enjoyed a drink in his younger days. He said that The Lord Bagenal In was " only two staggers' to home. And he also wrote poetry, primarily about Leighlinbridge, its places, people and teams.
His outlook on life was encapsulated in his oft-used phrase: "Live every day as if it was going to your last - some day you will get it right".
His remains were removed on Thursday March 24 from the Clarke family home to St Lazerian's Church, Leighlinbridge, where they were received by Fr Tom Lalor, PP. Three nephews of Jim's, along with a family friend, sand beautifully during Mass, while there was also music on pipe, flute and guitar.
Members of Leighlinbridge GFC, including some former playing colleagues of Jim, provided a guard of honour as the remains were borne from the church to the local cemetery, where Jim was laid to rest with son Eugene. Fr Lalor recited the final prayers at the graveside.
Jim is survived by his wife Elizabeth, family Anna Clarke, (Carlow Road, Leighlinbridge), Seamus (Bagenalstown), Marcus (Ballycastle, Co. Antrim), Declan (Leighlinbridge), Philip (London), Dermot (Blackwater, Co. Wexford) and Nuala Clarke (Blackwater).
He is also survived by his brother Michael (Leighlinbridge) sisters Rita Cadigan (Broadford, Co.Kildare) and Kathleen Meagher (Rathdowney, Co. Laois), eight grandchildren- Chelsea, Sinead, Shannon, Siobhan, Michaela, Amber, DJ and Eugene, by daughter-in-law Catherine (Ballycastle), sisters-in-law Mary and Frances Clarke, by nieces, nephews, neighbours and many friends.
Courtesy of the Carlow Nationalist
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