A loveable gentleman who loved to garden and took pride in it

Matthew O'Donoghue
1923-2013

Matthew J. O'Donoghue, of Our Lady's Bridge, Kenmare, and formerly of Oldthort, Potrumna, Co. Galway, died peacefully in the presence of his loving wife and family at Bantry Hospital on Thursday, March 7.

Matty was born on June 7, 1923 in Portumna, Co. Galway, where he grew up with his parents and eight siblings. During his childhood education, Matty gained his first experience of Kenmare people as he was taught by a man named Joe Downey from Kenmare.

As a young man he worked for McAenishs, a Scottish timber merchant who were felling timber in Derreen gardens on the Beara Peninsula.
That's how he came to Kenmare where he met and married the love of his life, Peggy Brown of 15 Main Street, Kenmare. They had fourteen children together, 37 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren, sadly their eldest son Christopher passed away in 2008.

For many years he played hurling with Kenmare and he was a team trainer when they won the minor hurling County Championship in 1959. Despite his interest in and involvement with the Kenmare hurling community, he remained an avid supporter of the Galway and Portumna hurling teams throughout his life.

He was well known during his time working for Kerry County Council until his retirement in 1988. He also worked as relief ambulance driver at night.
He was a wonderful gardener and took great pride in his own garden. In the spring he had wonderful camellias, for summer the garden was filled with the scent of sweet peas and in
the autumn an abundance of the most beautiful pink nerines grew outside his bed-room window. On more than one occasion he adopted the role of a teacher to the many fledgling gardeners that approached him for advice and he took great satisfaction when he was asked to work on other gardens around Kenmare.

It's difficult to describe in words the strength and vibrancy of character that Matty embodied during his life. Those who were lucky enough to have spent time in his company were certainly not likely to forget him. He was very a generous, witty and social man and was the life and soul of many a party.

He was very young at heart and had a particular gift for interacting with young people which was evident in the unique and enriching rapport that he developed with each of his grandchildren and later great grandchildren.
He was and remains dearly loved by each of them and his influence and humour will always remain visible in their characters.

Matty is survived and will be sadly missed by his wife Peggy, and children Jaqueline, Margaret, Stephanie, Cecilia, Matty, John, Valerie, Dymphna, Declan, Vivienne, Ophelia, Cyril and Sophia, his sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren and all of his extended family and many friends also deeply mourn his passing.

Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed and very dear. - Unknown

Courtesy of The Kerryman Tweet

Most Read Stories