Obituaries
Noel Desmond Kelly. Formally Ó Ceallaigh.
22nd Dec. 1936 - 6th March 2015. aged 79.
TURRIS FORTIS MIHI DEUS. Our family motto.
GOD IS A TOWER OF STRENGTH TO ME. Supposedly the last word said by Teigh Mor Ó Ceallaigh at the battle of Clontarf 1014. HE was well called upon for strength in the last few weeks.
Our family has been hit by a Tsunami. Firstly the death of my wife Maura (aka Rommel) followed then a little over a fortnight later by Noel.
As a family we are bonded by many characteristics, but today we are bonded by grief.
….but grief in time will turn to sorrow
… and sorrow in time will turn to sadness
… and sadness in time will turn to a little smile
… and that smile in time will turn to memories
… and those memories will bring us to magic days
… days of four spirited brothers playing in the ball ally
… playing cricket on the green in Inchicore where we were from
… the Christmas day when our mother, who was the local district midwife, delivered three children into the world, and still cooked the Christmas dinner for us
… Dad who was the genteelest of men who loved his four sons greatly
… the sadness when he died
… and Noel who was no more than a boy himself stepping up to the mark as a father to both Brian and I
… the toasted sandwiches on Saturday afternoon
… the trips to Brittas Bay
… later the sailing in Misty on the Irish sea
… sailing with his life long friend Gerry Moran on Lady Ruth before she sank,
… our search of Wicklow, and sometimes further afield for the best afternoon tea
… the childlike enjoyment we would get when demolishing cakes with real cream and jam and dainty little savouries - Hunters comes out the best
… his love and knowledge of Irish military history
… the years we spent together researching our own family history, not always agreeing on how it should be done, but never falling out
… our excitement when aspects of our family history were confirmed
… our disappointment when otherwise
… the amazing ancestors we discovered - The Revd Thomas Kelly, a dissenting protestant minister
… our relationship to an ancient Irish King
… what a journey Noel and can I ask you while your there ‘any sign of Rommel? no not yet, ah sure she will be late for the resurrection, as Dad used to say about Mum.
… and in time these memories will turn to Peace and understanding
Hasten the hour.
Joe. March 2015
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