Businessman who founded Meals on Wheels
BUSINESSMAN Eoin D. Leavy, who died on Monday, was the second generation of his family to run Leavy’s Pharmacy in Clanbrassil Street and was one of the founder members of Dundalk Rotary Club’s Meals on Wheels initiative which has provided an estimated 190,000 dinners since 1972.
Mr Leavy’s parents, John and Rosaleen, originally established the pharmacy in Mountmellick, Co Laois in 1929 and moved to Dundalk in 1932 where they set up the business at 94 Clanbrassil Street. Mr Leavy took over the business in the 1960s and his son Dermot took over from him.
The businessman was a founder member of the Dundalk Rotary Club in 1965 and was a member all his life. He is a former president of the club, from 1972-73.
Dundalk Rotarians dentist Paddy Roche and physician John Kidney, along with Mr Leavy, established the Meals on Wheels initiative in 1972, and, from a kitchen converted from a store at the back of the Town Hall, nine meals were served on the first day. The club have not missed one Monday since and it is estimated that 190,000 meals have been served.
The club’s PRO, Gay Berkery, paid tribute to his friend and fellow Rotarian. He said: ‘It is a tribute to Eoin’s vision that we are now serving 60 to 70 meals each Monday, as well as on Christmas Day and other occasions, to those in need in Dundalk. Eoin was the man who started it all and our colleague, chartered accountant Fergus McArdle has estimated that since 1972 to today, the service provided by the Meals on Wheels is worth in the region of €1 million.
‘ The Rotary Club is a voluntary organisation and the meals were cooked by the Rotarians’ wives and their friends. And thanks to the work of Dundalk Social Services and Elizabeth Duffy, along with the other organisations involved, meals are also delivered on Wednesdays and Saturdays’.
Mr Leavy is survived by his wife Phil and children Adrienne, Dermot, John, Hillary and Gillian. Reposing at his home from 2pm to 8pm on Wednesday. Removal on Thursday at 10.45am to St Fursey’s Church, Haggardstown arriving for Mass at 11am.