Trevor Quinn
Mayor of Castlebar Councillor Ger Deere has paid tribute to the late Nan Monaghan by describing her as “the Queen of Castlebar without the crown”.
Over many decades Nan inspired and gave hours of pleasure to watching audiences in Castlebar and throughout the country through her pantomime performances.
Cllr Deere said that Nan was very proud of Castlebar and she was an avid promoter of the town throughout the country. “She would have been very proud to have seen Pat Jennings win the Mayo person of the year last Friday,” Cllr Deere says adding “she always had Castlebar at heart in everything she did”.
Born in 1934, Nan enjoyed 57 years of blissful marriage with her beloved husband Mick and they made a remarkable team complementing each other wonderfully throughout.
Family was everything to Nan and their support of her Pantomine career was evident on numerous occasions. Her son Andrew and husband Mick helping out regularly back stage while Nan wowed the audiences. Her daughter Michelle, like her mother, regularly featured in Pantomines as did her nieces.
As far back as the 1960’s Nan was joined on stage with her sisters Angela and Irene. Through the intervening years the Denning/Monaghan name is closely associated with Castlebar Pantomime up to Nan’s reluctant retirement from Castlebar Pantomime last year.
Nan’s sister Catherine Wiley Murprisk, Westport was founder of the Irish National Grandparents Association and was also a great source of support.
Among many claims to fame, Nan entered the Castlebar Song Contest on four occasions. She may have been pipped at the post in 1961 with her own composition ‘My Home Town Castlebar’, and since then the song has been played in most parts of the world where Castlebar expatriates now reside.
At her funeral last week the song was poignantly played as her remains were removed on her final journey.
Pantomime was not the only cause close to Nan’s heart, her work within and support of CRC (Castlebar Community Radio) has been outstanding. Nan’s voice was perfectly suited to radio and her shows each Monday through to Wednesday had a large following.
CRC was not the only radio station charmed by the warm character of Nan. In 2002 Nan was interviewed on Mid West radio and the many illustrious highlights in her musical and Pantomine career were discussed glowingly while neighbours, friends and acquaintances came on air to chat with and congratulate her.
For years Nan would lead the cast of Castlebar Pantomime in a prayer of her own words before each performance, so it was only right that so many met during last week’s ceremonies to pray for Nan.
Nan is survived and mourned by her husband Mick, son Andrew, daughter Michelle, brothers John and Tom, sisters Mary, Angela, Irene and Catherine, nephews, nieces and grandchildren, and is greatly missed by her many Castlebar Pantomime friends. CRC FM will broadcast a special tribute show on this Friday at 12 noon.
