Sadness in west Mayo at sudden death of local businessman
Tributes were paid to Michael Chambers of Chambers Garden Centre who died suddenly at his home on Tuesday
A deep sadness descended on a west Mayo community following the sudden death of Newport businessman, Michael Chambers on Tuesday evening.
The proprietor of Chambers Garden Centre in Newport, Michael Chambers passed away suddenly at his residence on Main Street Newport on Tuesday evening.
Michael ran Chambers Garden Centre for close to 30 years before retiring from the business in 2024. Located in a charming spot, on the bank of the Black Oak River, Michael was a dedicated owner with the centre a go-to destination for advice on horticulture, quality plants, and unique garden accessories.
His family have been synonymous with business in Newport for years with his father Michael and his mother Mary B running Chambers newsagents in the middle of the town for years.
In his early years, Michael went to Florida where he started a business making blinds for windows and returned home following the death of his father. Michael decided to stay and set up the Garden Centre on a patch of land on the banks of the river where his father had grown vegetables.
“Business was slow in the beginning. I definitely didn't make any money the first year, but I stuck at it,” he told The Mayo News in December 2022.
Christmas was a particularly busy time for the garden centre with many people stopping by to pick up their Christmas tree along with wreaths and holly.
The news of Michael's sudden death was met with sadness in the locality with people paying tribute to him on social media with one person describing him as a 'gentleman in every sense of the word'.
Another person wrote that 'Michael was a gentleman and always so helpful in his garden centre and I missed it when it closed' while another added, 'He was always so helpful and patient in teaching bad gardeners how to get the best out of their plants'.
Michael will be deeply missed and always loved by his wife Barbara, sister Elizabeth, his nephew Charles (Reilly), niece Maeve, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, grandnephews and grandnieces, relatives, neighbours and his wide circle of friends.
He will repose at St Dominick's Funeral Home, Newport, on Sunday evening, November 1 from 5pm to 7pm. Removal from his residence on Monday morning at 10am for funeral Mass at 11am, with burial afterwards in Burrishoole Cemetery.
Donations if desired to Newport First Responders c/o of Chambers Funeral Directors Newport and
Mass can be viewed on Burrishoole Parish Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/burrishooleparish.