OBITUARY: Thurles local and grandmother Nancy Fogarty 'exhibited love and generosity to all'

Of all the many gifts and talents our mother exhibited, love and generosity were to the fore in all she did for us, her children, and to others she encountered in her long life.

She worked tirelessly to meet the needs of her family stoically and without complaint. Her ‘can do’ attitude and unwavering spirit were a testament to her own parents, Michael Egan and Ellen Hallinan, whom she admired and respected, and to her upbringing in her native home in Killkillahara, Loughmore.

Married to Jim Fogarty, The Brickyard, Brittas Road, Thurles on the 28th September 1959, she was blessed with a family of four sons and two daughters.

In catering for her family she gave of her time totally and selflessly. We were privileged to benefit from her great cooking and baking skills and her ability to turn the ‘loaves and fishes’ in to many a fine feast. Always an advocate of “waste not want not” she was ahead of her time in teaching us to appreciate and treasure our planet and the gifts it bestows on us.

Education and learning were always high on her agenda, and she committed herself wholeheartedly to this task with each of her children after school, when her kitchen would double up as a classroom. Later on she encouraged us all to third level education as she understood its importance for our future lives.

Music, song and dance were other great interests for Nancy, particularly the great operatic arias, and Irish music in all its forms. Light of foot she would also show her poise and rhythm when the opportunity arose. Possessed of a lovely singing voice she particularly liked McCormack’s “I’ll walk beside you” and would often sing it together with another favourite “Shenandoah”.

Her musical influence has permeated to all her grandchildren who are proficient at harp, concertina, piano, violin, flute, whistle, bagpipe and singing.

Nancy’s faith was very important and in this she has passed on a strong moral compass to us all. When widowed on 2nd July 1985 her faith, resilience and resolve helped her in the years ahead as a sole parent, commencing poignantly with the burial of our father on her birthday, while also grieving for her sister Maura, who had passed away in April of that same year.

We can all recall the prayers to our guardian angel as we were tucked into bed as children, the rosaries each evening, the masses every Sunday, and for some of us, early morning masses in the Hospital of the Assumption and the New Church as altar boys.

Mam’s love of sports was both broad and deep. Steeped in a proud GAA background in Loughmore, where she played camogie, her brothers’ Paddy and Tommy involved as players, committee and coach , and with her mother’s Hallinan roots in Fermoy GAA, both hurling and football gave her great joy.

She also came to have an equal love of rugby, and supported and encouraged us in this sport initially with Thurles RFC, and for some of us, with the Munster Junior Team.

We have great memories of many a Sunday afternoon spent as a family at Thurles rugby matches, some of us playing and the rest cheering on, and none more fervently than Mam. Or gathered around the television for the big sporting occasion - Ireland vs England, Tipp vs Cork, the Olympics, Wimbledon, the Grand National, Ascot, Tour de France, and the shouting & the cheering with the before, during and after analysis by our very own expert pundit Nancy!

This love of sport has also found expression in her grandchildren, with their participation in Thurles RFC, Connaught Rugby, Garryowen RFC, and in Thurles Sarsfields. She attended many a match to support all her grandsons and granddaughters.

While a passionate supporter of club, county and country, she always expressed respect for the opponent and admiration for skill and courage expressed in a fair and honest exchange. When Sarsfields played Loughmore she could not lose!

While busy with familial responsibilities Nancy also found time to help others, notably with her involvement with “meals-on-wheels” and the Citizens Advice Bureau. Her involvement in the latter was driven by the belief that benefits and rights available to citizens should be made known to them, and not hidden in a mist of red tape and deliberate obfuscation.

Her personal help in a practical manner was often given to individuals and families down on their luck. Most recently until April of this year Nancy visited her brother Tommy Egan as often as she could in Padre Pio, Holycross, and our thoughts are with him at this difficult time.

She was a true and loyal friend and confidante who would always listen to your troubles and woes and would only offer advice if asked.

Between the infinities which bookend our existence in this world we have little time to make our mark. Nancy used her time in the service of others particularly us her family, and for that we will be eternally grateful. The great ripples of her love, spirit and energy will spread out gently amongst all who knew and loved her and will help sustain us all in the years ahead.

Ó fhás go haois
Is ó aois go bás
Do dhá láimh a Críost
Anall tharainn
Ó bhás go crioch
Ní crioch ach ath-fhás
I bPárrthas na nGrást
Go rabhamaid