Former Islandmore resident whose early life was shaped by Lough Derg passes away

The death of James (Jim) Tiernan of Knockrenihan, Newtown, Nenagh, and formerly of Islandmore, county Clare, marks the passing of a man whose early life was shaped by the islands of Lough Derg.

He died peacefully on January 19th 2026 at Rivervale Nursing Home, Nenagh, in his 93rd year.

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

He is deeply regretted by his loving sister, Bridie (Cahalan), brother-in-law Vivian, nieces and nephews, dearest cousin Sally and her husband Noel (Teefey), grandnieces and grandnephews, extended family, neighbours, and many friends.

Jim was born into a family long associated with the islands of the Shannon. His father, Michael Tiernan, was from Islandmore.

Jim’s grandfather, also James Tiernan, who is buried on Holy Island on Lough Derg, was an eel fisherman who earned his living from the river. James Tiernan came from Inish Turk, an island on Lough Ree a few miles north of Athlone.

His grandfather settled on Islandmore and continued his fishing career on Lough Derg. Islandmore is the largest island on Lough Derg, approximately one and a half miles from Whitegate in  Clare and the same distance from Skehanagh in Tipperary, though the island itself is officially in  Clare.

Jim’s parents, Michael and Julia, both emigrated to England and were married in Coulsdon, Surrey, in the south of England. They had six children—three girls and three boys—Jim being the fifth. He was born in England and spent the first part of his childhood there. 

In extracts from Annals of Arra (Volume 3), Jim recalled: “When World War 2 started in the first Sunday of September 1939, I remember running into the house all excited to tell mam to come out and see all the things up in the sky… they were in fact barrage balloons to stop German planes flying in low to bomb strategic building targets. 

We kept playing in the garden while my parents were listening to Neville Chamberlain’s speech on the radio.”

Authorities in England advised people to leave the country for their own safety. Jim was brought back to Ireland in October 1939 to stay at his grandmother’s house in Jenkinstown,  Kilkenny, where he attended school. 

In 1945, he moved from Kilkenny to live on Islandmore. His father, Michael, had worked on an aircraft carrier in Southampton for most of the war. Upon returning from England after the war, he bought 40 acres of land on the island. 

Jim described the experience in Annals of Arra: “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.”

In an interview with the Nenagh Guardian in 2013, he recalled that when the family first arrived on the island they “had no house,” until an English angler, Bruce Pike, offered them a small 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,” he said.

Jim also remembered that “we used to fish every day and live off the land and the lake,” eating wild duck, rabbit and pigeon, keeping hens for eggs and a cow for milk, and making bread from their own oats.

“We were almost self‑sufficient,” Jim said, adding that in those years “you could go out on the lake … and nearly always have fish in the boat in less than half an hour.”

Reflecting on farming on the island, he said: “The land on Islandmore 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 future wife, Maureen. Reflecting on their wedding, he said, “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.” They had no children. Sadly, Maureen passed away suddenly in November 1988, aged 59.

Jim was known locally as a quiet, dependable man with a ready smile and a love of singing, often sharing songs with friends and at community events.

Messages of sympathy have been received from neighbours, friends, and public figures, reflecting the esteem in which he was held.

Jim remained connected to the landscape and traditions that shaped him in childhood, maintaining a deep appreciation for the land and waters of Lough Derg. He will be remembered with affection and respect by all who knew him. 

Jim reposed at Keller’s Funeral Home, Nenagh, on Wednesday, 21st January, from 5.30 pm to 7 pm. The funeral cortege arrived at Killbarron Church on Thursday morning at 10.45 am for Funeral Mass at 11 am, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

The family expressed their sincere thanks to the staff of Rivervale Nursing Home for the care and kindness shown to Jim.

Go Lonraí Solas Síoraí Air.

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