OBITUARY: Former Carrick-on-Suir FG councillor Johnny Dowley was 'one of life's true gentlemen'

Former Fine Gael councillor and farmer Johnny Dowley was remembered for his huge contribution to public life in Carrick-on-Suir and to the local farming community at his funeral last week. 

Mr Dowley from Connawarries, Carrickbeg passed away at Tipperary University Hospital on Saturday, September 2 at the age of 96.

The  dairy farmer served six terms as chairman of the former Carrick-on-Suir Urban District Council and he was chair of the board of Waterford Foods  when it amalgamated with Avonmore in 1997 to form what would later become Glanbia.  

Votes  of sympathy were passed to Mr Dowley’s family at Tipperary County Council’s September meeting in Nenagh on Monday and at a specially convened meeting of Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District’s councillors last week where current and former councillors gathered to  pay tribute to Johnny.  

At the Carrick MD meeting last Tuesday, September 5, former Carrick-on-Suir Fine Gael councillor Margaret Croke  described Johnny as one of “life’s true gentlemen”, who had helped so many people during his lifetime. 

She said Johnny had many hats throughout his 96 years. He was a family man, farmer, councillor, company director and chairman of multiple organisations. 

He was a life long member of Fine Gael who  canvassed for  the party as far back as Bridget Redmond, who was a Fine Gael TD for Waterford for 20 years up to 1952. 

He was a councillor on Carrick UDC for over 20 years    and chaired the council six times in 1961, 1967, 1971, 1972 and 1979. 

After departing the council, he  continued to be actively involved in Fine Gael right up until his final years. Margaret recalled how he encouraged her to run for the former Carrick Town Council and  canvassed for her during the 2019 local election campaign when he was in his 92nd year. 

“We have lost a wealth of history, wisdom and knowledge in Johnny's passing. His memory was second to none,” she said.  

“He was one of life’s true gentlemen with fantastic traits of honesty, integrity, genuine empathy, helpfulness and generosity combined with being a great listener in his civic and personal life.”

Mrs Croke added that Johnny knew how to fight for what was best and helped so many people through his lifetime. 

“He has earned the highest chair in heaven having served his family, community, friends and associates all his life. Ar Dheis dé go raibh  a anam.”

In tribute to Johnny’s life long contribution to Fine Gael, a guard of honour of the party’s Oireachtas members and councillors past and present from Tipperary and Waterford escorted the hearse bearing his coffin to St Molleran’s Church in Carrickbeg for his Requiem Mass last Wednesday, September 6. 

Former Ministers of State Tom Hayes and Paudie Coffey along with Senators Garret Ahearn and John Cummins were among those who formed  the guard of honour. 

A second guard of honour of local farmers was  in the church grounds as his coffin was carried into the church. 

Fr John Fortune, Priest in Charge  of Carrickbeg/Windgap Parish, told the congregation at the start of the Funeral Mass that Johnny Dowley’s passing will leave a big hole in the community and in the lives of all who knew him, especially in the lives of his family. 

In his homily, he said Johnny did a lot for the betterment of the community all through his life in so many different ways from the different boards he was a member of to his life in politics and also in helping people to find long lost relatives for which he had a special gift. 

“He was a great family man who was very proud of each member of his family. 

“Not only was he an expert on the  ancestry of so many families but he lived a long and full life and was able to see history being made in his own family, in his grandchildren, and most recently when the Cass family visited from the US, he met his great-grandchild.”

Fr Fortune said Johnny was a “very special” man who thought of others before himself and this could be seen as recently as the day before he died when he was in hospital. 

His grandson who was graduating from university visited him and Johnny told him no matter what happened in the coming days he was not to miss his graduation. 

He recounted how Johnny’s interest in others continued right up to the end.

 “He was chatting away to a paramedic last week asking where he was from and was able to tell him who his grandmother was. 

“Even in the last stages of his life, he had that interest and love for others and that historical memory.” 

Fr Fortune said Johnny Dowley’s faith drew all the threads of his life together.

 He was a prayerful man who attended 11am Sunday Mass at St Molleran’s Church and up to the time of the Covid pandemic attended Mass at St Nicholas Church in Carrick-on-Suir during the week.

 “His faith could also been seen in his own personal prayers each day and night. I think this is where he got that specialness and that energy and zest for life.” 

Fr Fortune read out a tribute to Johnny written by his friend Fr Jimmy Browne, Priest in Charge of Ballyneale/Grangemockler Parish, who was unable to attend the funeral as he was giving a retreat in Italy. 

Fr Browne wrote how he had been privileged to know Johnny and recalled how he always looked forward to meeting him after Mass on weekdays at St Nicholas Church and enjoying the banter with him. 

“He had a phenomenal memory and could trace back to his childhood and beyond. He was a hugely important figure in the local agricultural community and beyond. He was always broadminded and could see the bigger picture.” 

Fr Browne paid tribute to the important role Johnny had played in Waterford Co-Op and described him as a “wonderful raconteur” of stories. 

He pointed out that Johnny’s life had spanned seven popes, five English monarchs, many Taoisigh, diocesan bishops and parish prients. 

“His passing is truly the end of an era and I was privileged to have known him and shared a small way in his life,” he concluded. 

The eulogy at the end of the ceremony was given by Johnny’s grandson Brian Clifford.

 He  paid tribute to his grandfather’s huge contribution to local politics, agriculture and community life in Carrick-on-Suir and its hinterland during his life.

He said his grandfather was a “font of knowledge” who was always interested to learn more even up to the final days of his life. 

He was a dairy farmer who loved the land. He was founding member of Carrick-on-Suir Macra na Feirme and was involved in Waterford Foods Co-op for over 40 years and served on its board for 20 years.

 During his grandfather’s term as board chairman, he  helped steer the ship when Waterford Foods merged with Avonmore. 

Brian also paid tribute to his grandfather’s contribution to Fine Gael and local politics.  

“His main aim was to serve the people of Carrick-on-Suir to the best of his ability,” he said of his two decades long career on Carrick UDC. 

 He recalled that his grandfather stepped down from the council in 1980 following the tragic death of his son Mike. 

Brian highlighted Johnny’s keen interest in sport, particularly St Molleran’s GAA Club and recounted how he was instrumental in the purchase of a new field for the club in Carrickbeg. 

Brian also spoke of the wonderful support Johnny received from his late wife Eily. They were together for over 63 years. 

He concluded his eulogy by saying Johnny’s family will miss him terribly and recited the last verse of his grandfather’s favourite poem, If, by Rudyard Kipling. 

After the Requiem Mass, Johnny Dowley was laid to rest in St Mary’s Cemetery in Carrick-on-Suir. 

He is predeceased by his beloved wife Eily and son Mike and is survived by his daughters Mary, Helen and Ann, sons-in-law, Jimmy, John and Joe, his much loved grandchildren Eoin and Darren Cass, Elaine, Sarah and Brian Clifford, granddaughter-in-law Taylor Cass and his great-grandson Oliver Cass (USA), relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. May he rest in peace.