Garrywadreen, Claremorris
The Jennings family has been synonymous with Garrywadreen for many years. He was one of a family of six and was predeceased by his brothers Paddy (Cloonboy, Claremorris) and Jarlath (London).
Jimmy was among the first in the area to invest in a new tractor. He was only 21 at the time and that was back in the mid-1950’s when manual labour on the land was still very much the norm and would continue so for another decade. But he was quick to recognise the advantages and potential of the tractor and machinery. He was soon in much demand for ploughing and mowing the hay, the two biggest uses for tractor work during its infancy in this country. Such work brought him into many farms in the neighbourhood where Jimmy always took pride in a job well done. He established a good name for reliability and attention to detail and was seldom idle back in those times.
He married Margaret Ruane and they raised a family of eight, five daughters and three sons. It was a busy home over the years and there was always a warm welcome for visitors and callers to the Jennings family home.
For close on ten years, Jimmy undertook a school bus run and this he handled with great care and attention. He brought students to St Colman’s and Mount St Michael Convent of Mercy from the Taugheen, Newbrook and Mayo Abbey areas. He also conveyed pupils to Barnacarroll National School for a good many years. During those times, Jimmy was renowned for his kindness and concern for all entrusted to his care.
A man with a great love for the land, Jimmy retained a strong affinity with the farming way of life. He enjoyed his many outings to Claremorris Mart down the years and missed the company of many friends when it closed down in recent years.
Jimmy was, above all, a “people’s person”. He loved good company and meeting friends and his regular visits to Merrick’s pub provided him with an oasis of contentment where he spent many happy hours in pleasant conversation and at peace with the world and himself. He had a great knowledge of the local people of the area and was a fine historian when it came to such matters. He had a passion for football and followed Mayo with an allegiance that seldom wavered, always there to renew his support each time they faltered along the journey. He took a good interest in the local club scene too and was happy to see some of his family and grandchildren don the local club colours.
Matters relating to politics and current affairs engaged his attention in a special way. He took a very keen interest in these fields of activity and would debate such issues with much vigour, especially around election times. He was a strong supporter of the Fine Gael party down the years.
Jimmy was a man who valued his Christian faith. In his own quiet way, he remained staunchly true to the traditions handed down from his own parents. He was a regular at weekend Mass, recited the rosary, and attended the First Fridays on a regular basis.
In more recent years, Jimmy loved to see the grandchildren call around. He had a great rapport with them and things such as the ‘generation gap’ had no place at all in Jimmy’s understanding of life. He was as much at home and at ease with young people as he was with members of his own generation.
He had been in declining health for some time. His passing will be regretted by all who knew him but especially by his close and devoted family.
Removal took place from Gilligan’s Funeral Home to Claremorris Church with burial in St Colman’s Cemetery following Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr Peter Gannon who also delivered a consoling and reassuring homily which was much appreciated by the family. Among the items brought to the altar in the offertory procession were a family photo, a rosary beads, a copy of ‘The Irish Independent’, Jimmy’s driving licence, and soil from his beloved Garrywadreen.
Jimmy is deeply regretted by his wife, Margaret; sons, Jimmy, Michael and Jarlath; daughters, Mary (Commons), Catherine (Gilmore), Mairead (Enright), Ann (Steele) and Noreen (Moore); sons-in-law and daughters-in-law; 15 grandchildren; brothers, Tom (Irishtown) and Johnny (Newtown, Claremorris); sister, Gertie O’Connor (England); in-laws, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
