RIP: Former Islandmore in Lough Derg resident dies peacefully aged 93

The death has occurred of James (Jim) Tiernan, Knockrenihan, Newtown, Nenagh and formerly of Islandmore, Co. Clare, on Monday 19th January 2026, peacefully in his 93rd year with his family present in the loving care of Rivervale Nursing Home.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife Maureen, his parents Michael and Julia, brothers Pat and Tom, sisters Mary and Julie, and niece Rosemary Cahalan.

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He is deeply regretted by his loving sister Bridie (Cahalan), brother-in-law Vivian, niece Carmel (Rohan) and her husband Paddy, nephew Shane (Cahalan) and his wife Ciara, dearest cousin Sally and her husband Noel (Teefey), nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, kind neighbours, relatives, and many friends.

Reposing at Keller’s Funeral Home, Nenagh on Wednesday 21st January from 5.30pm to 7pm. The funeral will arrive at Killbarron Church on Thursday morning at 10.45am for funeral mass at 11am, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. The family wish to thank Rivervale Nursing Home for the care and kindness shown to Jim.

A Life Connected to the Shannon Islands

The Tiernan family were residents of the islands of the Shannon for generations. Jim's grandfather, James Tiernan, who is buried on Holy Island on Lough Derg, was an eel fisherman who made his living from the river.

In a 2013 interview with the Nenagh Guardian, Jim recalled arriving on the island with his parents and siblings in the 1940s.

“When we first arrived on the island as children we had no house. However, an English angler, Bruce Pike, gave us his little timber fishing lodge to live in. One of the conditions was that we had to vacate the property for the month of May because Bruce and his friends would arrive to fish the Mayfly season on the lake.

“We children thought life on the island was great. Coming from England and Kilkenny, we weren't used to going out in a boat. We used to fish every day and live off the land and the lake.

We ate wild duck, rabbit, and pigeon. We had eggs from our own hens, milk from a cow, and we killed a pig once a year. My mother made our bread from our own oats, which we brought to a mill in Whitegate to be ground every year.

We were almost self-sufficient. You could go out on the lake in those days and nearly always have fish in the boat in less than half an hour. The fishing was great back then and we were never stuck for something to put on the table.”

In extracts from the 3rd volume of the Annals of Arra, Jim recalled:

“I came to Islandmore in 1945 from my grandmother’s house in Jenkinstown, Co Kilkenny. My father, when he returned from England after the war, bought about 40 acres of land that previously belonged to Jack Grady of Urra, Puckane.

As children, it was a life changing experience having to come out by boat to go to school and walk to Kilbarron which was over 2 miles away."

“Farming on Islandmore, the land on the island was very good farmland. All crops sown yielded good healthy food, especially corn and potatoes. We lived on the Clare side of the island, and when the post or food had to be got, my father and uncle borrowed two bicycles from Tom Holland and cycled to Morgan’s shop to collect post and buy whatever was needed.”

Jim later emigrated to England, where he met his wife Maureen. “We got married on St Patrick’s Day 1973. It was the most wonderful day of my life. We were so happy together and we came back here to Knockrenihen, Newtown, in 1974. My wife Maureen came from Achill Island, one of her three different homes.”

Condolences

One person shared: “Sincere condolences to all Jim’s family on his sad passing. I remember Jim in January 1963 when the Shannon froze. He pulled his boat with his uncle James on the ice to Cameron and called to our house in Luska on their way to Puckane for groceries. May Jim rest in peace.”

Another wrote: “My deepest sympathy to the Tiernan and Cahalan families and extended family members on the sad passing of Jim. He was a real gentleman and gifted singer.

We have lovely happy memories of our group when we went off to Spanish Point many years ago. He was lovely company and very popular in the Daycentre. It was a pleasure to know him. You are in my thoughts and prayers. R.I.P Jim.”

Messages from public figures

Ryan O’Meara TD said: “Sincere sympathy to the Tiernan family on the sad passing of James (Jim). May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

Michael Lowry TD expressed: “Sincerest sympathies to Jim's family and friends. May his soul rest in peace.”

Go Lonraí Solas Síoraí Air.

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