‘Cathy was treasured by so many’ - Cathy Hughes remembered at funeral Mass

THE late Cathy Hughes has been remembered as a person who was ‘treasured by so many’. 

Speaking at her funeral Mass this afternoon, Cathy’s sister Anne McGovern called on those gathered to ‘remember her for the joy she brought into our lives’. 

A native of Westport, Cathy died last Sunday while she was swimming off Old Head Beach near Louisburgh. 

Born into a well-known Westport family as the eighth of thirteen children, Cathy was ‘always the centre of attention’ and was known as ‘chatty Cathy’ after she started school, her funeral was told. 

She later moved to Salthill, Co Galway and had three children and four grandchildren, who affectionately knew her as ‘CC’. 

“It’s sad to realise that those children will never now get to know ‘CC’, the ‘CC’ we all know; the warm, vibrant, religious, glamorous, elegant granny,” her sister, Anne, told the congregation.

Cathy was an established artist and hosted an exhibition of her work in Westport in late 2021. 

Anne described her passing as ‘tragic, heartbreaking unexpected news’.

“Cathy, who sparkled in company, was at her happiest with a glass of champagne in her hand, the Cathy who loved fly-fishing, hill-walking, reading, travelling and walking the Prom,” said Anne.

“The Cathy who had a great ability to network, the Cathy who was fun to be with…the Cathy who loved the good things in life, the Cathy who loved colour, the Cathy who loved the sea, the Cathy who loved to swim.

“As we bid farewell to Cathy, let us remember her for the joy she brought into our lives. We were truly heartened yesterday at the reposing of Cathy, the beautiful comments and stories that her many friends shared with us, the large number of people who attended yesterday and today, and the warmth of comments shared on social media. Cathy would have loved all that,” Anne added.

“It’s obvious that Cathy was treasured by so many, Cathy will now never grow old.” 

Anne then recited lines from the John Denver song ‘Today’ which she sang with Cathy while they visited Old Head the day before she died. 

“Today, while the blossoms still cling to the vine, I’ll taste your strawberries, I’ll drink your sweet wine, a million tomorrows shall all pass away, ‘ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today.”

Fr Gerry Jennings described Cathy as a ‘special’ woman who was ‘part of the treasures of life’.

“We were all struck by the suddenness of the tragedy,” he added

Cathy will be dearly missed by her children William and Isabelle Greene, daughter-in-law Anne Carey, son-in-law Seán Treacy, grandchildren Pierce, Abby, Honora and Imogen, her sisters Anne (Joe) McGovern, Marion Hughes, Orla (Eamonn) O’Carroll and Eleanor (Kevin) Moran; brothers Cathal, Patrick (Olive), Harry, Owen (Karen), Richard (Jean), Vincent and Declan (Catherine) Hughes; sister-in-law Maria Hughes; Ronnie Greene as well as all the wider Hughes, Kelly and Greene families, and her many friends.

Her cremation will take place tomorrow (Friday, July 26). 

May she rest in peace.