JOAN MCEVOY PLAYED SUCH A HUGE PART IN LIFE OF THE TOWN
DROGHEDA is a poorer place this week after the death of one of the town’s true characters, Joan McEvoy.
The Francis Street woman passed away in the great care of the team at Sunhill Nursing Home in Termonfeckin.
For many years, Joan dedicated her life to the well-being of others and whenever a task was needed, she was there, fundraising or indeed, famously acting.
The Befriending Drogheda group remarked about their founder member, ‘ Joan McEvoy was an amazing funny, kind, enthusiastic, warm and exceptionally caring lady whose drive and commitment was one of the main reasons our charity is where it is today. We will miss you Joan , you will never be forgotten and always be remembered,, especially when we eat apple pie!!.’
Paul Hayes added that he was fortunate enough to direct Joan in The Tiny Dancer Player’s ‘Christmas Carol’ in 2013 and Upstate Theatre Project’s ‘ The Street’ in 2014.
‘I am always amazed when someone of a certain age gets involved for the first time in a community theatre experience, it take guts to push that workshop room door open for the first time.
‘It saddens me that we can’t all meet and raise a glass to Joan in these strange times.
‘ Thank you Joan for opening that door.’
Others spoke about the great days in London with Joan and Danny. They helped in the setting up of the Drogheda Association in the city and many locals were helped down the years.
A man from those days, Michael Clarke, stated, ‘Danny and Joan’s home was open house. She would ring me and other people from Drogheda, saying your name is in the pot. A lady with a big heart. She will always be in my thoughts.’
To mark their 40th wedding anniversary in 2001, Danny spoke of how the happy couple met, ‘We were practically reared together,’ he recalled. ‘I grew up in Moran’s Terrace and Joan Fox in bothar Brugha, but her grandfather Nicky Woods lived next door to us so we saw each other almost every day all our lives.’
In December 1958, Danny found work on a ship serving the old Oil and Cake factory while Joan worked in Morco.
They married on Easter Monday 1961.
‘We were married by Father Dorman in the Lourdes Church at nine o’clock in the morning and we all went to the Carlton Cafe in Narrow West Street for the Wedding Breakfast. Over 100 people attended the wedding celebration and enjoyed a fine breakfast at a cost of 12/6 a head. ‘ That was top class then,’ said Danny.
Soon after, they headed to London and spent 35 years there. The couple settled in Maida Vale and Danny found employment with Wimpy’s, building houses all over London, while Joan went to work for Westminster Social Services. ‘She was a team leader for Maggie Thatcher, which was a very tough job,’ said Danny.
When they retired, both Danny and Joan decided they wanted to come to Ireland and in April 1996 they moved to Francis Street and the cottage formerly owned by Danny’s uncle Peter McEvoy.
Joan (nee Fox) was predeceased by her son Damien and is sadly missed by husband Danny and family, Tony and Denise, daughter-in-law Shaneen, grandchildren Jack and Robyn, great-grandson Hazel, brother Paddy, sisters-inlaw, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and a large circle of friends.