The passing of Tony egan of Kiltrogue last week left a community deeply saddened but filled with fond memories. Tony was a man who was well known and liked, a man who grew up in difficult circumstances and went on to become a hugely acknowledged and accomplished tradesman long before there were qualifications for any trade.
Tony’s father John passed away when he was in his youth and, while his brother Patrick would continue to work on the family farm. Tony knew that money was needed in the home and he set about straight from school to start work on the building sites.
As well as working the shovel, mixing concrete, carrying heavy loads, tony also quickly learned about proper mixes, measurements, foundation quality and bricklaying. Tony became a do it youself expert in many fields and was always willing to learn from others as he went along.
He was a teacher and learner as he went through life and became one of the most important people in the community when something went wrong as he could put his hand to anything.
As a blocklayer, plasterer, plumber, electrician, carpenter, Tony was all rolled into one and, while he concentrated on blocklaying, he provided many homes for people of the area as he did nearly all the work in the house, before qualified tradesmen at specific jobs became the norm.
As a handyman, he was always on call and had few equals. Tony lived and loved life and was a passionate Turloughmore and Galway supporter. As a hurler, Tony had little ambition of ever making it to senior level but enjoyed his hurling and became one of the best junior hurlers that Turloughmore ever had.
From the 1960s to the early ’80s tony was a star player of Turloughmore Junior hurling team. He gave dedicated service of many years and played alongside many of the great players who were members of the six-in a row side of the ’60 era or would later be prominent members of the 1985 senior title winners.
These included Pakie Burke, Seamus Murphy, Jimmy Rabbitte, Bobby Madden and others from the famed 1960 era and Frank Burke, Joe Greaney, Gerry Holland and Jimmy McGrath from Turloughmore’s last senior success of 1985.
It was fitting that Turloughmore Hurling club escorted his funeral as he made his way to his final resting place.
Tony’s remains were brought through his beloved Kiltrogue village for the last time before being taken from Our Lady’s Chapel to the Church of Our Lady of Knock, Lackagh. The people of Kiltrogue lined the road of the village in large numbers to pay their respects to a much loved neighbour and friend.
Following his funeral Mass celebrated by Fr. John O’Gorman, who was joined by Fr. Billy Collins and Fr. Bernard Shaughnessy, burial took place in Lackagh Cemetery. Tony is survived by his sisters Mary and Eileen, brothers in law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
