‘Goodness and love personified’

COMMUNITY CHAMPION Martin Curry

Neill O'Neill

WESTPORT will unite today (Tuesday, August 29) to bid a final farewell to one of its best-loved sons, Martin Curry. Following a recent battle with illness, Martin passed away in Mayo University Hospital last Friday evening, surrounded, as he always was, by his ever-loving family. His passing came as a shock to many and has deprived his native Westport of one of its most knowledgable voices and a true community champion.
A former editor of The Mayo News, Martin continued to live an active community life, despite illness, up until his most recent hospitalisation. A founding member of St Patrick’s Drama Group, Martin Curry was also a former employee of An Post, where he began working at the age of 15. However, he spent the majority of his career in The Mayo News, where he served for 40 years as a journalist and editor, before retiring in 2000.
Hailing from one of Westport’s oldest streets, John’s Row, Martin was a true son of the town. He was synonymous with James Street, where he and his wife, Kay, and their family, established and continue to operate the bustling Curry’s Kitchen, a popular coffee shop and bakery.
Martin was honoured earlier this year with a Clew Bay Person of the Year Award for his many years of community work.

Actor, raconteur, leader
A historian of some note, there was not a building in Westport that Martin did not know the history of, and his storytelling and tales of old were the stuff of legend far and wide. So much so that in recent years he hosted a Sunday evening show on Westport Radio, where he also served as Chairman for a time, and ‘Covies Corner’ became one of the station’s most popular programmes.
Even up until several weeks ago, Martin was one of the organisers of the biennial Covey Week, and he participated in the many festivities that he helped organise as part of the event earlier this summer.
Martin was always one to take the lead and was a passionate advocate on local issues, never failing to air his opinion or concerns when it came to matters of the heart about Westport.
He was also a renowned on-stage performer, most notably and enduringly with his beloved St Patrick’s Drama Group, which he helped found. Their 50th anniversary celebrations in 2014 were a proud moment for Martin, as was the 40th anniversary of the Westport Plougastel Twinning, which took place earlier this year. Martin was also among the founders of this, Ireland’s longest-enduring international town twinning.
Martin Curry also left an indelible mark on many other community groups and organisations, and was a proud member of the West FCA. He also played a leading role in the establishment of projects and causes such as the Emigrant Bureau Project and Westport Credit Union, among several others. Nothing was ever too much to ask when it came to enhancing his native place, and Martin was an avid promoter of his home town, a pioneering influence on his generation and an example to follow for those who come behind him.
Martin was also a great family man, and he is deeply mourned and missed by his loving wife, Kay; son, David; daughters, Karina, Sharon, Clodagh, Orla and Martine; brothers, John, Kevin, Ray and Ger; sister, Marianne; grandchildren, Cúlann, Aoibhe, Caoilte, Siofra, Laragh, Ciana, Mason, Finn and Jade; sons-in-law Kevin and Joe; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives neighbours and friends.
Speaking to The Mayo News before a radio appearance early last Saturday morning, Minister Michael Ring described Martin Curry as an ‘old personal friend’.
“I knew him and the Curry family going way back. Martin was a great journalist, and his input into the local community is hard to quantify. I loved being in his company. He never said a bad word about anyone. I knew him way back in my days in the FCA, and he used to look after us all so well. He covered our council meetings for years and was an honourable and decent man. He gave so selflessly to so many groups and organisations over so many years; his loss to the town and to his family is immense.”
Fr Charlie McDonnell said Martin was full of ‘kindness, encouragement and goodness’.
“Martin Curry had Westport running through his veins,” he said of his next-door neighbour at St Mary’s Church.
“We can sometimes perceive journalists as people who sit on the fence, watching and commenting on the world. Martin didn’t. He lived right in the middle of things. He was an innovator, a community man, a peacemaker. He was goodness and love personified.
“He and Kay and the family were great neighbours, always very encouraging and showing true neighbourliness all year round. He was passionate about the history of Westport and gave so much to Westport. Be it in the drama group, the FCA or whatever he was involved with, he gave of himself and became part of the history of the town. He was part of making Westport what it is.”
Reposal took place in Navin’s Funeral Home, yesterday evening, where thousands flocked to pay their respects and sympathise with Martin’s heartbroken family. His funeral is due to arrive at St Mary’s Church in Westport today, Tuesday, at 11.30am for Mass at 12.30pm. The cortege will travel down James Street on its way to the church, and Guards of Honour will be formed to accompany Martin down his beloved James Street one last time.
Burial will take place afterwards in Aughavale Cemetery, where Martin, fittingly, will forever be in the shadow of that great emblem of Westport and its people, Croagh Patrick..