Just got word that Joe O'Donovan died today in
Baldoyle. He must have been around 96, falling short of
the 103 years his mother clocked up. Joe was from
Timoleague (Tigh Molaga in Gaelic) near Clonakilty. He
attended the local National School which had two
teachers — Mrs Collins and Bat Murphy. When it came to
talking about his early days, Joe had total recall. He
maintained Bat Murphy knew little or no Irish and had to
consult Mrs Collins all the time. Joe would recite the
Irish/English “poem” Bat taught him.
Yesterday morning — Maidin inné
I killed a goose — Do mhairbh mé gé
The knife was too sharp — Bhí an scian ró-ghéar
I cut my finger — Do ghear mé mo mhéar.
Joe joined the Brothers in England, attended University
College Dublin to obtain his BA. He was missioned
to India and taught in many of our schools. He was
mainly a maths teacher. Joe was a lovable simple
soul in whom there was no guile. Quite unusual in a
Corkman! He couldn't understand duplicity in anyone. He
loved field sports and was a formidable back on the
soccer field. He often recalled how the late Br
John Joe O'Shea shouted “Leave it to me!” during a
football game in Ledsham. Joe obliged and the ball
bounced over goalie John Joe's head. As the
years advanced Joe became hard of hearing. If one
stood outside his room while he was correcting papers
one would think he had a pupil inside with him. “O, you
old rascal!” “Good man, yourself!” Joe spoke very
audibly to the absent boys whose papers he was
correcting.
Joe was a man of solid piety, always regular at
community exercises and spiritual reading. He used to
read to himself out loud! We knew which book he was
perusing! He went to see the visionary, Christine
Gallaher, in Ireland, but was cute enough to say nothing
about it as he knew the Brothers might think him
gullible. Amazingly, Joe was fearless in confronting
demonstrators in St. Pat's, Asansol. He upbraided them
although they were wielding knives and made them remove
red flags from Our Lady's grotto. “O, the old rascals!”
He shouted at those in the clerk's office and told them
to get out.
He became so concerned with his health that he almost
developed hypochondria. Eventually he moved to Baldoyle
where he found the central heating too hot, and the sun
on summer mornings too bright. That after sixty years in
India!
Joe died unexpectedly today — the Feast of the Holy
Innocents. It is a fitting day for Joe to go home.
No doubt he will meet up with old friends and companions
— Alban O'Sullivan, Danny Burke, Mel McCann, Paul
Mulcahy, Norbert Foley and many other comrades in arms
“who endured the scorching plains of Hindustan.” We
extend condolences to his sister, Breda Kelly, who lives
in Scoby, Enniscorthy. To Xavier Leonard also who is now
the sole remaining ex-Indian Province Brother in
Baldoyle. Rest in peace, Joe.
— Anonymous
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