Finn (91) had a deep interest in nature
The death of Christopher Martin Finbar Kavanagh shortly before Christmas occasioned much sadness in his adopted hometown.
Born in Cork City, Finn grew up in Brogue Lane in New Ross where he was reared by James and Jane Kavanagh. With his grandparents living across the road, Finn was given a loving start to life.
He attended St Michael’s boys school and from a young age excelled at athletics. From the age of 14 he was competing in races across the south east. He loved track and javelin throwing.
Finn left school early and worked at a printer’s in New Ross. Like many of his generation he moved to England to work at labouring in the 1950s, settling in Watford and later Shepherd’s Bush.
He was one of thousands who worked laying the foundations for the London tube subway system and station.
Finn married Jenny Kavanagh in 1968 and they had four children: Lisa, Susan, Siobhán and Rory.
He found work at the Sun newspaper printing press and worked in a post office also for a time.
Finn was known for his deep love of music, especially The Indians, who played at his wedding. He returned from England and settled in Nunnery Lane.
Finn was a talented writer, from original and individual poems he would write on his children’s birthday cards when they were children, to full on twenty verse poems. His daughter Susan said: ‘He’d be told a tale or piece of folklore and would turn it with ease into a poem. We’ve so many that he wrote and we each read out one at the celebration of his life. The Devil Dog was my favourite. A lot of them would involve names and places around town that were long forgotten, but brought back to life on paper. He loved County Wexford, despite being born in Cork. He went there some years back to see the church where he was baptised. Through no fault of his own, his birth was never registered. Circumstances and situation of the time I suppose. He finally was registered and received his birth certificate when he was 80 years of age.’
An eccentric man, Finn had a vast amount of hobbies and interests. When his children were growing up he collected a huge array of elastic bands because he believed they were handy. In the last few years he took to collecting safety pins. He loved studying Aboriginal and Native American cultures and his favourite film with The Last of the Mohicans. He was a conservationist and recycler before it was trendy to do so.
Finn also enjoyed a flutter and enjoyed having the banter with people at the bookies.
‘He really was so knowledgeable, and all self taught and made the best colcannon. He was a clever man and never really was able to use his knowledge to further his career etc.’
Finn adored Slieve Coilte, finding peace and solitude there and enjoying the view of Carlow, Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny stretching out before him.
‘He slept up there once, around seven years ago with just a sleeping bag for cover! From a young age he would have been going up there with relatives when they would be hunting for rabbits and the like. He wrote all about Slieve Coillte and his love for the place and had a little booklet printed in town, and gave one to each of us.’
Put simply Finn loved being outdoors and surrounded by nature. He could happily spend hours looking through and reading National Geographic magazines. ‘If you went on a short walk with him it would turn into a couple of hours. He’d stop at each tree and explain the leaves, the seeds, the fruits.’
A self-sufficient, independent man he was collecting driftwood at the river when he was 90. He would store it under the boardwalk to dry before bringing it home to Nunnery Lane.
Throughout his life Finn maintained his love of sport and every four years he loved to watch as much of the Olympics as he could.
He really enjoyed going down to The Rag pub to listen to The Grumpy Pluckers play the music, forging a strong friendship with musician and businessman Mark Comerford.
He had a great singing voice and was known to entertain nursers and family from his hospital bed last summer.
Finn was old school, technology was not his friend, be it a phone or remote control.
He has a close relative in Australia, and he liked to write to him and receive the reply, despite having to wait many weeks for it.
Finn passed away peacefully at his home aged 91, having taken ill suddenly on his way back from town on December 16.
A crowd attended a humanist ceremony at Cooney’s funeral home where some of Finn’s favourite songs were performed including Sultans of Swing. He was laid to rest afterwards in St Stephen’s Cemetery alongside his parents.
Finn is survived by Lisa, Susan, Siobhán and Rory; his grandchildren: Erin, Finlay, Breeanna, Melyssa, Ruby, Kristopher, Honor, Ned, Isobella and Giovanni.
May he rest in peace.