Ballinrobe bids farewell to ‘true gentleman’ Tony Walkin

A GREAT father, businessman, GAA man, and community champion was laid to rest in Ballinrobe on Sunday after the funeral of Tony Walkin Snr.

The South Mayo town came to a standstill as crowds packed into St Mary’s Church to bid farewell to a man who was at the heart of Ballinrobe for more than six decades.

A native of Ballina, Tony was well-known and well-regarded throughout the town, where he ran Walkin’s Gift Shop for many years.

After moving to Ballinrobe in 1962, he became an integral part of the business community on Ballinrobe’s Main Street, running various enterprises including a pub, a travel agent and most recently, a gift shop.

He was also at the beating heart of various local organisations, including Ballinrobe GAA Club, Ballinrobe Musical Society, St Vincent de Paul and the running of Ballinrobe town hall.

During his association with Ballinrobe GAA Club, he served as club manager, President and county board delegate and was heavily involved in fundraising and development of the club’s facilities. He also witnessed his sons Paddy, Mark, Peter and Tony Jnr play for the club.

Along with his great friends Billy Horan (RIP) and Michael Coyne, Tony never missed a Ballinrobe game. He could always be spotted at Flanagan Park in Ballinrobe with his beloved dog, Michael D, who remained close by his side during his final weeks.

Tony Walkin Jnr, who played football for Ballinrobe for many years, recalled: “Dad’s love for the game was unbelievable. He would travel far and wide to support Ballinrobe and Mayo GAA, no matter what the weather was like. In all the years I played myself I always looked into the crowd to make sure Dad was there. Once I saw him there, I could relax.”

Of his many loves in life, family was his greatest.

“Family was always his priority; we were always his number one. Dad was our rock. He was absolutely everything we ever wanted,” said Tony Jnr, who described his father as ‘a true gentleman’.

“He had the biggest heart, and that heart is heading to heaven right now.

“Granda absolutely adored all 13 of his grandchildren and absolutely loved to hear all the stories and he loved us all unconditionally,” added Tony Jnr.

“Mum was the love of his life. I couldn’t put into words how much Mum meant to him and how much Mum means to us. They were married for 61 years of pure happiness and love. He was always making sure she was okay. Even up until 24 hours before his passing he’d look at us and say ‘Is Mom okay?’”

Tony was also a long-time member of Ballinrobe Musical Society. He was one of the last surviving members of their 1974 production of The Pirates of Penzance - a show in which he performed on four occasions, most recently in 2020 alongside his son Tony Jnr.

Even after stepping back from the stage for some years, Tony remained a regular at the front of house for the society’s annual shows, where he always greeted audience members with a warm smile and a welcoming hand.

Members of the society, Mayo Male Voice Choir – of whom Tony was a member – and the Ballinrobe church choir all took part in the singing at his funeral mass.

Ballinrobe Parish Priest, Fr Michael Gormally, described Tony as ‘a wonderful Christian’ and noted how he never disclosed the identity of people who reached out to him for assistance from St Vincent de Paul.

A lifelong teetotaller, for many years Tony drove trucks to Sarajevo with goods for those less fortunate - and even contemplated returning in recent years.

“He had a wonderful warm welcome for everyone and a beautiful smile, and if you stiffened up you got a big hug from a man who was involved in so much in this parish,” added Fr Gormally.

Upon removal from the church, Tony was then afforded a guard of honour by members of Ballinrobe GAA Club, Mayo Male Voice Choir and Ballinrobe Musical Society.

^{Tony Walkin's funeral cortége making a final stop outside of Walkin's Gift Shop in Ballinrobe} 

The funeral cortège drove down through main street before making a poignant final stop outside his beloved shop, a place where Tony bestowed a friendly smile and a warm welcome to thousands of people down through the years.

He was then laid to rest in Ballinrobe Cemetery.

He was predeceased by his parents Paddy and Kitty and is survived by his wife Irene, daughters Mary, Elaine, Paula, sons Tony, Peter and Mark, sister Maura (Ballaghaderreen), brothers John (Ballina), PJ (Ballina), Gerry (UK), Shamus (Ballina), Eamon (Ballina), and Vincent (Doc, Dublin), sons-in-law John, James, Kevin, daughters-in-law Mary Ann, Joan, Denise and Marie, sisters-in-law, 13 adored grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and large circle of friends.

May he rest in peace.