SADNESS AT DEATH OF BRENDAN
‘A DEVOTED partner’, ‘ the life of the party’, ‘a great son’. These are just three of countless positive descriptions of Brendan O’Leary, the 40-year-old New Ross man who died suddenly at his home on Monday night last, a fortnight before Christmas, his favourite time of the year.
Brendan took ill at the Ryleen home he shared with his partner Claire on Monday night. Their neighbour Jimmy Kehoe arrived on the scene and tried to resuscitate Brendan, but it was too late.
Claire said: ‘ He was the most loyal, caring, funny and easy going person to have in your life and we had the happiest, most amazing and loving relationship imaginable. He was a partner like no other.’
THE sudden death of hugely popular New Ross man Brendan O’Leary last Monday led to great shock and sadness in the area.
Brendan took ill at his Ryleen home, he shared with his partner Claire on Monday night. Their neighbour Jimmy Kehoe arrived on the scene and tried to resuscitate Brendan, but it was too late.
From 51 the Bosheen area of New Ross, Brendan was the son of Paddy and the late Cissie O’Leary.
One of a family of nine, Patrick, James, Johnny, the late Kevin, Paul, Anthony, May and Maggie, Brendan attended New Ross CBS and New Ross Vocational College, before going on to train as a plasterer with Danny Fenlon. He played hurling and soccer growing up and lived in Australia on two separate occasions.
Brendan met Claire Murphy 13 and a half years ago and from there on in they were inseparable.
Claire said: ‘We knew each other and were friends for years before. He was the most loyal, caring, funny and easy going person to have in your life and we had the happiest, most amazing and loving relationship imaginable. He was a partner like no other.’
Brendan worked at Johann Hoff in New Ross and took great pride in the plastering work he did.
He turned 40 on November 26 and both he and Claire had many dreams and plans for the future.
Brendan will be remembered for his love for his family. He called to see his father every day after work and loved to have fun times with siblings, and his nephews and nieces.
He loved relaxing when he was off work and enjoyed music and going to gigs. He had many holidays over the years, including to Australia with Claire. Very sociable by nature, Brendan loved spending time with friends. He loved making everyone feel happy and had a brilliant sense of and delighted in making Claire laugh every day.
He also loved his dog Reggie who he and Claire looked after so well.
Brendan’s brother Paul echoed the shock felt by people across the town when he spoke of the circumstances of his brother’s death.
Paul said: ‘Brendan was a great character. Everybody loved him. He would always be the frontman in any joke and at any party. People surrounded themselves with Brendan and they would always be around him for the laugh. He wasn’t sick.
‘ There was nothing wrong with him. He never complained about anything. He was up with my father and in great form and then he went home. We’re just devastated. It’s a big, big loss for the family.’
Christmas Day was Brendan’s favourite day of the year. ‘He loved playing games, especially with his nieces and nephews. He was a big child at heart,’ Paul said.
A massive crowd attended Brendan’s funeral Mass where his plastering trowel and skimmer were brought to the altar of St Mary & St Michael’s Parish Church, along with a lovely photograph of Brendan and Claire.
Claire and the O’Leary family want to thank Jimmy Kehoe, the paramedics and the gardaí for their valiant efforts on Monday night last at Brendan and Claire’s house.
Brendan is survived by Claire; his loving father Patrick; brothers Patrick, James, Johnny, Paul, and Anthony; sisters Maggie and Mary; uncles; aunts; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law, nieces; nephews; extended family and friends.
He was laid to rest at St Stephen’s Cemetery.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.