This article is from page 14 of the 2014-08-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
LARGE crowds turned out in Ennis yesterday to say goodbye to a woman who made an indelible mark on life in the town and beyond.
Friends and former colleagues joined family of the late Monica Gallagher at her funeral mass in Ennis Cathedral yesterday.
Mrs Gallagher, a mother of six, passed away following illness on Saturday, August 23. A former teacher at Coláiste Muire secondary school in Ennis, Mrs Gallagher was actively involved in a number of charities, community and sporting organisations.
She was one of the founding members of the Clare branch of the Samaritans and was actively involved in the Clare Daffodil Day committee. She was associated with the Sláinte an Chláir cancer support centre and worked with St Patrick’s pre-school for children with special needs.
She was a former lady captain at Ennis Golf Club and was heavily involved alongside her husband Hugh, with the Ennis Players.
Supporters of the annual Daffodil Day fundraiser, along with former captains of Ennis Golf Club, performed a guard of honour outside Ennis Cathedral yesterday.
Ennis Golf Club also remained closed for a time yesterday as a mark of respect to the Gallagher family.
At her funeral service, Fr Jerry Carey told mourners that Monica’s life brought her on myriad journeys and into contact with many people.
“Each of us was held dearly by her and I trust she too was held dearly by us,” he said. “She revelled in irreverence. She revelled in reverence by its very self; such was her stand on the take of life. Monica knew only generosity…she had the ability to enable others to be generous, learning that through generosity, happiness could be reached,” Fr Carey added.
Fr Carey told mourners that Mrs Gallagher was a woman who climbed the heights of the Alps, the hills and valleys of New Zealand, walked the Great Wall of China and did the Camino pilgrimage.
He continued, “She won her hearts because she had no limits. Her horizons were fabulous.”
She will be sadly missed by husband Hugh and children Siobhan, Hugh (Jnr), Sinead, David, Paul and the late Fergus, brother Seamus, sister Eugenie (Murphy), grandchildren, daughter in law, sisters in law, brothers in law, nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.