Proceeds from memorial fundraiser donated to Red Cross

THE Claremorris branch of The Irish Red Cross was the beneficiary of a recent fundraising night in memory of Liam Hans, who passed away in 2020.

Liam had worked in Warde’s Bar and Hardware shop for over 40 years, and was very popular in the community.

“Liam passed during the Covid restrictions,” Greg Warde, of Warde’s Bar said at the cheque-presentation ceremony.

“So while there was a huge stand-out for the removal and burial – almost like a State funeral – at the time, there was no proper traditional funeral for Liam.

“On the third anniversary of his death, we had a huge gathering for Liam. We held a fundraising auction and people and businesses donated various items so willingly. We had everything from heating oil to oil paintings, even calves! We raised close on €8,500 on the night.”

Liam’s widow Christina was asked which charity should receive the funds, and she selected the Red Cross.

“We were honoured to be chosen,” Ger McCallig, Chairperson of the Red Cross said. “We knew Liam so well; he was a hugely popular figure in the town and was so well respected.”

Happy memories

GREG Warde said he he had known Liam all his life and that he was like an older brother to him. Liam joined the business from school in the late 1970s.

He worked initially in the hardware shop and later, from the early ’90s, as a bartender, when the Warde family closed the hardware shop and concentrated on the bar business – one of the most successful in the west of Ireland.

“When we were young lads, we’d knock over a tin of paint messing in the hardware shop in the evening,” Greg said, “and Liam would clean it up in the morning without a fuss or without getting us into trouble. Later, he often gave me the loan of his car, if I was going on a date and hadn’t transport. He was a big lover of Ford cars – particularly Sierras, and of course the GAA.” 

‘Family man’

LIAM was fond of a game of cards, and he travelled around the area to games on his time off. In the bar, Liam had a tremendous rapport with customers. His greatest love, however, was for his family; his wife, Christina (née Nevin), and their daughter, Rebecca.

“He was a real family man,” Greg Warde said. “They were always number one.”

The Warde family have been operating in their corner location since 1934, when Michael Warde acquired the premises previously known as Bretts’ Stores.

Greg is the third generation of the family in the business, and the family have other business interests in the town. His mother Anne, is a highly-accomplished artist.

“We’re very grateful for the donation, and we’ll put it to good use,” Ger McCallig said.

The Red Cross provides first-aid cover for sporting and community events, and since the Covid pandemic, have partnered with Food Cloud to distribute surplus food to the needy in the greater Claremorris area. The branch also offers first aid classes from their training centre on Convent Road.