Farewell to a great husband, friend and huntsman

Peter Smith, RIP

Our community has said farewell to yet another of its much loved and respected residents with the sudden and unexpected death of Peter Smith, Garrymore and formerly of Aghowelia, Carrigan, which occurred on Easter Sunday morning at his residence. His untimely passing has left shock and sadness for his dear wife Ann, his whole family circle and the entire neighbourhood. One of life’s gentlemen he never had a bad word to say as he went through life’s way, one that took him to many places.

My very first memory of Peter is getting to know him at Carrigan NS, a place that was tough on discipline and had almost 90 pupils with just two teachers, but we looked forward every day to our lunch time break when we crossed the road to play football on the rock field better known as Hornies.

It was there that all gave their all for that half hour or less and the brown leather ball that on a wet day must have weighed nearly half a stone was a real test of our endurance.

Another great memory from these days is of Peter having in his lunch bag freshly made oaten bread, and it as hard as a rock, beautifully baked by his late mother Merry Kate. It is a taste that remains, as he generously shared pieces of it with us.

Summer days in the bog as very young lad wheeling out the barrows of turf being cut by his late Dad Peter are fondly recalled. It was hard work, but lots of very happy times from those bygone days as well.

It was also in their childhood days that he just like his father before him and elder brother Tommy RIP learned a deep love for Beagle hunting, a sport they loved for all of their lives. Peter, just like all the members of Bruskey Hunt Club, travelled near and far with his much loved and cared for hounds and many a winter Sunday he with his comrades stood on hillsides in all kinds of weather enjoying the sport that was dear to his heart. We will miss him so much when the sport returns next season, but his spirit will live in our hearts, and many memories will be recalled.

Born on 19th October 1947, a year that can be remembered for many reasons; one is the big fall of snow in February which lasted on the ground well into the Spring, and of course there was the famous All Ireland victory over the mighty Kingdom in the Polo Grounds - both events are still part of many a conversation today.

After his school days were over at the age of 16 he took up employment in Dunnes of Arva, a business that comprised of a bar and grocery. It was there that he spent two very happy years, but like many at the time there was a yearning to cross the sea to England so with a friend of his at the time Sean Gaffney they went to London where he worked on the buildings, and later a brewery. He wasn’t long there until he met his future wife Ann Jordan from Co. Wexford. It was love at first sight and on the 29 March 1968 they were made man and wife. It was a true and lasting relationship that lasted through the years; returning home every Christmas for four weeks of the hunting season was part of the happy marriage as well.

There was a longing for home and in 1997 a site was purchased in Garrymore where local builder the late John Joe Donohoe RIP erected a beautiful bungalow for them and it became their home, a place they have lived so happily since then, sadly that has ended.

From taking up residence there, they made so many new friends and they were made so welcome in the new neighbourhood just overlooking the town. It is that same town where they loved to socialise, visiting the local bars when an occasion or event was held, for Peter the well known Brady’s Lounge is the place where he met all his great old friends from the sport of Beagle hunting and many a night of music and song was held there after a big hunt. We can recall the lads from Clonakilty, Co. Cork the men from Kill, Drung, Kildallan and Killeshandra, Corduff just to mention some who were part of it all over a long number of years.

Peter also was a keen fan of Gaelic Football, always following the fortunes of our county teams and when the hunting season was over you would see him in Crowe Park cheering on Lacken Celtics and at many other venues wherever they were playing.

Golf was another of his favourite past times and many an evening you would find him with his playing partners on McSeains course in Cornafean and when the rounds were over a few more followed in the lounge nearby and the craic was only mighty. It is a place where he will be dearly missed as well by his golfing friends. We all will miss him on our local roads in his Volkswagen Golf as he made the daily trip to Aghawelia to tend to his beloved Beagles which are housed in a kennel there. He was always making sure they had plenty to eat and drink while they were cosy and warm in their neatly kept surroundings.

Always neat and tidy was his way of life and wherever, or whenever you met him he always looked smart, not a man for untidiness. Peter was a very kind natured man who loved and gave so much to family over the years. Born into a family of eleven he never forgot his roots and his huge and caring devotion to his wife Ann whose needs have been growing is well known and often talked about, God how she will miss him.

A man who had a great faith a regular attendee at our local churches with Ann in her wheelchair, it was just Good Friday I chatted with him in St. Michael’s Church Potahee, where we celebrated the Lord's Passion. Little did we know it was our last in this world where everything can change so quickly. And so we say a final farewell to a man, though small in stature had a very big heart, one that won a multitude of friends and his quick wit was a joy to behold, God rest you loyal friend you were one of the best.

His remains reposed at Finnegan’s Funeral Home and also at his own home where many came to pay their respects then on Friday morning he was taken to St Mary’s Church, Bruskey and on route passing by his place of birth in Aghawelia and coming down the Chapel hill a Guard of honour was provided by Lacken Club and leading the way two of Peter’s treasured beagles - Dancer and Traveller - both on leash led by old hunting buddies Donie Sheridan and Mel Brady and as his coffin was carried into St. Mary’s another old buddy Jack Donohoe sounded the hunting horn Mass was celebrated by Rev. Sean McDermott with concelebrant Rev. Jimmy Brady an old school friend, it was a lovely celebration for the much loved man gone to his eternal reward.

It was then the final journey to Mullaghboy Cemetery where his hunting friends who had dug his final resting place carried him part of the way and after graveside prayers and a final salute on the hunt horn we said farewell to our dear old friend.

To his wife Ann, brothers Liam, John, Pat, sisters Mary, Marcella, Ann, Francis, Kathleen and all the extended family we offer our deep condolences. Peter was predeceased by his parents Peter and Mary Kate, brother Tommy and sister Bridget, nephew Brian.