Bridie was a private lady who lived for her family
PEOPLE throughout the Enniscorthy and New Ross areas were saddened recently to learn of the passing of Bridie Cummins, Ballyeden, Davidstown, Enniscorthy.
Bridie (86) died as a result of a fire at her home in Ballyeden on Tuesday, December 10.
A lady by nature Bridie was a very private person who lived for her family and enjoyed a circle of very good friends.
An only child herself, she was originally from Carnagh, Gusserane.
Like many people of her generation she emigrated for a period to England but upon her return to Ireland in the early 1960s she met the man who would become her husband, Peter Cummins.
The couple were married in June 1963, and thereafter set up home in Peter’s native Ballykelly.
The couple had four children but unfortunately after 10 years of marriage, in 1973, Peter passed away leaving Bridie to rear the family on her own.
Five years later, in 1978, Bridie moved with her children to Ballyeden, Clonroche, where she became a popular and respected member of the local community for 41 years.
Well known for cycling, her beloved bicycle was very important to her - especially as she lived in a very rural part of the locality.
In 1993 the first of her three grandchildren was born and with family meaning everything to her she doted on her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild.
Despite the fact that she never imposed herself on anybody and was a very private person by nature Bridie was always willing to help others whenever the need arose.
Very fond of TV, Bridie was a particular fan of soaps and she also had a particular fondness for the programme, ‘Heartbeat’.
Bridie also loved cooking and baking and was very skilled in that regard.
An avid reader she was a huge fan of Ireland’s Own; a copy of the magazine was brought up the church during her Requiem Mass as a symbol of her life.
Bridie was blessed with a great sense of humour and that was something that remained with her throughout her entire life.
She always visited a close friend down the road every
Friday and when she cycled into Clonroche for her shopping every week she always stopped off for a 7-Up in the Boro Inn before making her way home.
At weekends, Bridie liked meeting friends in the Cloch Ban.
In addition to a copy of Ireland’s Own, among the other items brought up the church to symbolise her life during her Requiem Mass were a scarf and a cook book.
The extremely high regard in which she was held by everyone who knew her was underlined by the large gathering of mourners who attended her funeral mass in Ballykelly, and by the level of support Bridie’s family received in the days after her passing.
That’s also something for which her family expressed great appreciation with one family member commenting: ‘ The phone messages and people calling really meant a lot to us and we really appreciate it.’
The family also praised the professionalism of Cooney’s funeral home in New Ross for their help and assistance during this difficult time.
Bridie’s requiem mass took place in St Brigid’s Church, Ballykelly, on Saturday, December 14, followed with burial afterwards in Whitechurch Cemetery.
Bridie is survived by her loving daughters, Liz and Mag, sons, Tom and Patrick, grandchildren, Adrian Cullen, Leah Cullen and Thomas Cummins, great-grandchild, Finbar Doyle, extended family and friends.