Sport big part of Barney’s life

BARNEY Smartt, who died suddenly on 4 January, 2017, was well-known for his passion and involvement locally in the sport of greyhound racing, and was a founder-member of Pearse Celtic football club from Pearse Park.

He was also a talented cross-country runner as a young man, and won a collection of medals and cups; and he worked all his life in the local shoe industry.

Barney lived most of the 60 years of his married life in Pearse Park, and, as a true and very caring gentleman with a heart of gold, who worked his hardest to raise a large family, he is so fondly remembered by his wife Nuala, children and grandchildren.

His sudden passing in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, after taking ill at Christmas, was a shock and a cause of much grief and sadness to his family, for he was a very active man until three years ago, and while his health declined, he was still going about his daily chores.

His passion for greyhounds kept him fit, out walking his dogs about the town.

When he gave up his involvement in the sport with the closing of the old track on The Ramparts, he got a Labrador dog and gained plenty of exercise walking him. He loved the craic with those he met on his walks.

After retiring, he loved to go out on his bicycle and did a lot of the household jobs, including shopping, cooking and cleaning. He also took a great pride in his garden, and loved seeing it look its best, and was very protective of it.

Barney was the youngest son in the large family of Josephine and Billy Smartt, and was brought up in Distillery Lane, and attended the Christian Brothers School.

He started work at a young age, entering Rawson’s factory, where he met Nuala McConnon from Pearse Park, and they subsequently married.

When the factory burned down, Barney secured employment in Clarks and then C Step which came after the closure of Clarks, which was such a major blow to employment in Dundalk.

Barney and Nuala set up home in Marian Park, and then got a swap and moved to Pearse Park, close to where Nuala’s mother lived in the estate.

Most of their 12 children were born in Pearse Park, and Nuala had her hands full as a full-time mother and housewife.

Barney, in his younger days, was a fine cross-country runner, but greyhounds became his main hobby.

An Irish-named bitch, whose name translated “Run My Love”, was promising in his early days in the sport, but suffered an injury and had to be put down.

He loved taking his dogs to the schooling track at Red Cow, off the old Newry Road.

His most successful dog was “What You Saying”, which won a number of open races. His dogs all competed at the Ramparts track, and a number of his sons shared his love of the sport.

He got a great thrill from winning, but once the Ramparts venue closed in 2000, Barney, like others, withdrew from the sport.

He derived great pleasure from his regular ‘Lucky 15’ bet on the horses, at which he was quite successful.

He enjoyed a weekend social outing, being a frequent patron of Benny Brady’s (Central Bar) in Clanbrassil Street and in later years “The Jockey’s” and “Wee House” in Anne Street, which were closer to home.

He possessed a very fine voice and loved to sing. “Working Man”, “Willie McBride” and “The Town I Love So Well” were the favourites in his repertoire.

He was not a man for flying. He only once flew, to undertake work training in England, while in Clarks, and it didn’t do any good for his nervous system. His view was “if God wanted me to fly he would have given me wings.”

So, holidays were spent in Ireland, in places such as Killarney, Listowel and Gorey, and his family have great memories of the annual factory holiday break in Clogherhead, with neighbours in the estate.

Barney enjoyed relaxing with a drink and a sing-song in local bars, and the factory break coincided with the Galway and Goodwood race meetings, which gave him an added interest and source of pleasure.

As he moved on, he loved to see his grandchildren, and was very proud of them, and keenly interested in what they were doing. He retained his faculties to the end.

His family attribute his mental and physical well-being to a healthy appetite combined with an active lifestyle. A favourite dish of Barney’s was fresh cod and a carton of peas, as he just loved fish.

With a young population in the Pearse Park estate, Barney, along with Don O’Callaghan RIP, Owenie Hanratty, Johnny Woods RIP and Gene McMahon, formed Pearse Celtic, to give them an outlet to play soccer.

The players had a great respect for the mentors, and Barney’s sons, Kenneth and Brian, played on the team, while Colm was also a noted player in local junior football in more recent times.

During Barney’s time at the club, they won the Brian McConville Cup, and its most famous product was Stephen Staunton, who went on to achieve a record haul of caps for Ireland, as well as captaining and managing his country.

The team was a great focus for residents, with families going to watch games across the road in the Friary Field.

Barney, from his work days and through the football, had a very close friendship with Gene McMahon. Gene visited him every Friday, and they shared their love of horse racing and other subjects.

Neighbour, Brendan Scollon, also much involved in the team, and to this day in the Summer League, was a constant visitor at Christmas, but this year Barney was ill when he called,

His ‘other son’, Liam Cunningham, passed away eight years ago, and his death broke Barney’s heart, for Liam called to him every morning.

Barney is survived by his wife, Nuala; sons, David, Brian, Kenneth, Paul, Gerard, Alan and Colm, all Dundalk; daughters, Carol (Sligo), Jacinta, Joan, Brenda and Sharon, all Dundalk; sisters, Peggy Kelly (Newry) and Mae Sally (Dundalk), sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers- and sisters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family relatives, wonderful neighbours and friends.

After reposing at his residence, Barney was taken to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for Funeral Mass. The concelebrants were Father Mark O’Hagan Adm. and Father Gus Champion OP, with the eulogy delivered by Father O’Hagan. Burial followed in Saint Patrick’s Cemetery. His grandchildren were centrally involved in the Mass. The Readings were given by Liam and Alison, with the Prayers of the Faithful led by Adam, Aaron, Ryan, Niall, Leigh and Jillian.

The Offertory Gifts were taken to the altar by Cathy and Rachael.

The music was provided by organist, Brendan McCourt and singer, Sarah McCourt.

Month’s Mind Mass is on Sunday, 5 February, 2017, at 11.30am in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.