Sligo woman fondly remembered by many in her native Mayo

THE death took place recently at her residence of Joan Grennan, 9 Greenfort, Cairns Rd, Sligo Town.

Joan was formally Rushe of Esker in Ballindine, Mayo. Born to Margaret and Bill Rush, Joan was one of a family of five, three brothers and one sister.

Joan was sister to Seamus Rushe, Milltown, Brendan Rushe, Kiltimagh, and Liam Rushe, Mayo Abbey, and sister to the late Francis Rushe.

Joan was a first cousin to Jim Carney of Tuam, well known radio and television sports commentator.

Joan was as loving, intelligent, caring a person as you’ve ever likely to meet.

Her great energy, her positive attitude and passion for life had an enormous impact on so many people in her 75 years in this world.

She was a mother to Justin Niall, Cathal and Fiachra Joan and was predeceased by her infant daughter Dervla.

She was a most loving wife to her husband Joe and a devoted grandmother to her adorable grandchildren.

Her influence wasn’t limited to her family and friends. She was a teacher to countless children in Sligo where she made an enormous contribution to the school where she taught.

She was a legend and long-time member of Sligo Tennis Club.

Joan was involved in countless activities, volunteering for the Special Olympics and everything in-between. She was an artist, a writer and a scholar.

Her passion for life, hunger for knowledge and her desire to help others and anyone she could was relentless. She was truly an exceptional person.

Joan was incredibly bright from day one, even in the isolation of the farm, where Joan was brought up, she found a way to learn, to gather knowledge and find out about the world.

Joan devoured the Reader's Digest. She learned about everything from all corners of the world and sat and imagined the life she would live.

It was in Joan’s very early years while in Esker in Ballindine that Joan picked up a tennis racket. Her passion for tennis was born at that time.

Joan didn’t stay long in Esker or Ballindine.

Her intelligence was recognised early and at the age of 12, she left her home in Esker to spend a year in Carna in Connemara where she learned Latin through Irish.

Following that, she went to a boarding school in Tuam on a scholarship where she had many happy years. She continued her academic excellence by achieving a gold medal in Irish in her Inter-Cert.

By the time Joan was 18, she had a job in Dublin with the Civil Service and the Department of Forestry and Lands.

Joan always described this time in Dublin as being epitomised by the song ‘Summer in Dublin’ by Liam Reilly of Bagatelle.

Joan was living her dream at that time and making her way in the world, living in Dublin. She studied at UCD, achieving a degree in Irish and English Literature.

She had a strong and happy group of friends and a wonderful life.

One evening when Joan was out with some colleagues at the Television Club in Dublin, a good-looking man, very well spoken, came up to the table very confident and with wonderful English and held a conversation.

That man was Joseph (Joe) Grennan. He became Joan’s husband.

Joe obviously saw great qualities in Joan, since he cancelled his plans to move to Australia. Their relationship soon blossomed into marriage.

They continued to live a happy life in Dublin. Joe and Joan lived in a nice home in Malahide.

Double income no children, this is what they call it now, living a life with friends, dinner parties, nights out, visiting the Television Club for social gatherings and nights out.

They made the big decision to move to Sligo in the 1970s to move to Sligo.

Joan taught for over three decades at St John’s National School in Sligo. She was an amazing teacher and touched the lives of so many pupils.

She was a wonderful special lady and an inspiration to all who knew her.

Joan joined the Tennis Club and quickly became a character of legendary status and was very involved in the club and had a great love for all of the people there.

Once she retired, Joan focused on art, learning and writing. She had many letters published in the Irish Times, Irish Independent and other publications.

Joan kept her tennis up into her later years and in 2017 at the age of 68 she reached the West of Ireland finals in the mixed doubles divisions with her son Fiachra.

In recent years she spent most of her time adoring her grandchildren. Joan was so proud of all of them.

Her four sons spoke so lovingly about their amazing mother at the beautiful funeral service. Her first cousin, Frances Murphy from Milltown, spoke fondly about Joan and her endearing memories of her.

Joan and Frances kept up the friendship all through the years and she spoke of them going to their first dance.

Frances recalled how Joan’s mother gave them both a lesson before leaving for the venue, giving them a lecture with good advice about etiquette and telling them to be most careful and where to park their transport.

Joan’s mother was a very creative lady.

The Rushe children saw nothing but love, kindness, and good manners. They had a marvellous childhood in their lovely house in Esker, Ballindine

William (Bill) and Margaret Rush were just wonderful people, outstanding parents and the salt of this earth. May they all rest in heavenly peace. - Mary Coleman, Carradoyne House, Claremorris.