McEvoy, James
February 20, 2005
The death has taken place of James McEvoy, 3 the Paddocks, Brownshill, Carlow. James or Jim to those who knew him, was the founder chairman in both Fenagh and Ballon GAA Clubs - an extraordinary feat which goes a little way to demonstrating how deeply immersed he was in the two communities that he lived most of his life.
A native of Fenagh, he attended Newtown Primary School and went on to serve an apprenticeship in the ESB, where he worked for almost his entire career.
Jim married Josie in 1961. The ESB brought them to Edenderry, Co. Offaly in 1961, where they stayed for seven years. They had four children; Tom (now residing in Co. Clare), Shay (Kilkenny), Vin (Carlow town) and Ann Marie Fitzharris (Carlow town).
In the late '60s, Jim, Josie and their young family moved back to Carlow, to Josie's homeplace of Ballon.
Jim was an integral part of the Ballon community and was a founder member of the Ballon Credit Union, the Hall Committee and the Bingo Club. He was also a proud founder member of the Ballon branch of the Labour Party.
An unfortunate and serious accident in 1982 saw Jim break both of his legs which, needless to say this curtailed his community work and his mobility in later years, but undeterred, he continued to play an active role in his community, and was the caretaker of Ballon cemetery until very recently.
Jim and Josie moved to Carlow town in 2002. he developed Parkinson's disease in later years, but true to his customary courage and character, he fought it with quiet dignity and good humour.
His beloved Fenagh GAA club, of which he was the club secretary in 1960 when they won the Junior County Championship, reached their first Senior final in 2004. Jim would have dearly loved to attend the match and replay with Rathvilly. His condition, however, dictated that he stay in St. Luke's hospital, where he received exceptional care and attention from the staff. Even in his time in Hillbrook nursing home on the Tullow Road, Jim's zest for life did not desert him, he even had a runner put a couple of Euros on horse or two once or twice over the past few weeks.
His funeral drew one of the biggest crowds seen for such a service in Ballon for many years. People travelled from far and wide to say their final goodbyes to a man who had selflessly given so much of his life to helping others and making the communities he lived in better places.
The family would like to sincerely like to thank all who attended his removal and funeral and all who have sympathised with them over the previous few days.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife Josie, sons and daughter Tom, Shay, Vin and Ann Marie, son-in-law, Killian, daughters-in-law Patricia and Margaret and grandchildren Joyce, Kate, Emmet, Aimee, Shay and Annie and brothers in law, sisters in law, and other relatives.
Courtesy of the Nationalist
3rd February 2005
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