Mike Daly

Crimlin, Irishtown

MICHAEL Daly, Crimlin, Irishtown, who died recently, was well known over a wide area of this region of South Mayo. He was 76, and news of his passing was received with regret and sadness throughout the neighbourhood.
Mike, as he was known to most, served as a ganger with Mayo County Council for many years. His work on the roads took him into numerous local villages in the Claremorris Electoral Area where, he got to know many families down through the years.
A great talker, Mike loved to spend time chatting with the people and enjoyed numerous cups of tea in the homes of friends he had got to know through the course of his work. He was a welcome visitor in these homes and acquired a great knowledge of the villages and their people.
One of his special pastimes was bingo, and he was a regular at the Saturday night in Brickens in recent years and at Irishtown bingo in former times. He also attended Thursday night sessions in Claremorris every now and again.
Fishing was also close to his heart. He had a great love for the River Robe from his youth and had his own favourite spots, which he fished on a regular basis. He found peace and contentment in the tranquillity of an evening spent by the banks of the river.
Mike followed the ups and downs of the local GAA championships and the All Ireland series. Health matters restricted him from attending games, but the radio and television enabled him to keep in close touch with all that was happening in sport.
He loved music and song, which he always found rewarding and relaxing, and was an ardent listener to his favourite programmes on Mid West Radio. The local radio was part of his daily life and kept him in touch with much of what was happening throughout the region.
Mike went through a lot of mixed health over the past decade, but he maintained his spirit and good nature throughout that time. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Condolences to the Daly family on their sad bereavement.
A wake was held in the family home, and removal took place the following evening from Carey’s Funeral Home to Irishtown Church, with burial in the local cemetery following Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr Martin O’Connor, PP, who also delivered a lovely and consoling homily.
Mike is survived by his wife, Mary; sons, Tom and John; daughter, Maura; son-in-law, Cyril Connolly; grandchildren, Brian, Lisa and Ciara; brother, Tom; sisters, Delia, Annie and Ciss; brother-in-law, Michael Roche; and other in-laws, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
May his soul rest in peace.