Mulvihill, Dan
May 05, 2011It was with great shock and sadness that the family and friends of the late Dan Mulvihill of Leanamore, Ballylongford and Harlesden, London, learned of his sudden death. Dan, aged fifty, passed away on April 6th in London.
He was born on April 30th, 1960 to Stevie and Peg Mulvihill, who farmed land at the bottom of Leanamore Hill.
He was the first boy and second in a family of five and attended Leanamore National School before taking up Secondary Education in Tarbert Comprehensive School.
It was through his education that he became interested in woodwork and the building trade. After leaving school he continued his apprenticeship, working with several local builders.
Dan was instrumental in many aspects of community activities during his young years. He had a great passion for GAA and played with the local club from underage to junior and senior level.
He was also instrumental in the founding of the Leanamore GAA Club back in the late 70s, and was always to the forefront helping promote and organise activities.
He also worked tirelessly for was the development of the Carmody Community Centre, and even ran for mayor to raise funds for the development of the now modern complex.
Dan was a great character who loved the craic with his friends and had a passion for Irish music. A talented bodhran player, he spent many a St Stephen's Day on the Wren with the Leanamore Wren Boys.
Dan emigrated to London in the late 1980s, where he began work on the building trade and remained there for sometime before going on to work in the bar trade. He quickly made it a new career moving on to run his own pubs in London, including the Riley Arms in Kings Road, the Wishing Well in Cricklewood and finally for the last decade, he was landlord of the Royal Oak in Harlesden.
He organised and ran many events and catered for a wide variety of functions, including darts tournaments.
He formed the Royal Oak darts team in which he was a team member and played with some of the best, including Phil Taylor, a fact he never left anyone forget. He ran competitions regularly in his function rom and being a great cook generously catered for the events himself.
One of the most popular events he ran was the 'Oak Factor', a talent competition similar to the X Factor. He ran and organised this event for the last three years making the Royal Oak one of the busiest spots in Harlesden on Saturday nights.
The Royal Oak became well-known for the hospitality and generosity shown by him, not just to his regular customers but it was in the Royal Oak that many young Irish lads, who came to London is search of work, were given accommodation, meals and a fine start to their life abroad under the watchful eye.
Throughout Dan's busy life in London he never forgot his family and home. He always remained in constant contact, phoning weekly and more often, and he visited home regularly, always enquiring of his old friends and neighbours.
His passing at such a young age has indeed created a great void in the lives of all who were glad to have known him and, in particular, his close circle of friends in London and at home. However, the biggest void will be to his family. Dan is survived by his son Stephen, daughter Siobhan, brother Michael, sisters Noreen, Louise and Josephine. Sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and uncle.
Ar dheis de go raibh a ainm, a chara.
Courtesy of the Kerry's Eye
5th May 2011 Tweet
