Jack was a true gentleman, well known local historian and author
Jack McQuillan, the well known author and historian, whose love of writing and history was entirely inspired by his love of his native Dundalk has died.
Aged 95, Jack passed away peacefully in Blackrock Abbey Nursing home early on Sunday morning.
He previously lived in Ard Easmuinn.
For many years he was a contributor to this newspaper compiling profiles of well known personalities and events with historical links to the town.
Later he took over as the obituary writer with the ‘Argus’, the first to be appointed to that role.
He was the author of two books, the first ‘Dundalk-The Railway Town’, was a labour of love for Jack, for he worked as a blacksmith on the old Great Northern Railway (GNR), and the second book, ‘Voices of Dundalk’ was inspired by his work in profiling prominent figures in the town’s history.
Both were the most successful publications ever compiled by a local author, ‘ The Railway Town’ becoming a collector’s item, such was the demand after the first edition sold out.
One of a family of eight from Priory Villas, Jack followed the trade of his father in serving his time in the GNR as a blacksmith, where he served his apprenticeship.
The closure of the railway works on the Ardee Road in 1958 saw the Government invest in one of the new engineering projects established to absorb some of the 900 jobs that were lost.
One of those firms, the German owned, Heinkel Cabin Scooters Ltd., provided the opportunity Jack sought to put to use his fluency in German that he acquired from a young refugee who had joined his family in Dundalk shortly after the start of WWII.
The firm also provided Jack with the opportunity to advance his education, and his keen mind allowed him progress within the firm in the Work Study Department.
When Heinkel departed Dundalk in 1963, having built hundreds of their famous bubble cars, Jack left the Ardee Road works for A.E.T. In Dunleer where the electrical manufacturer of household goods was rapidly expanding under managing director, Martin McCourt.
Jack joined the Work Study Department, and later became Personnel Manager at the large Dunleer plant, working closely with Martin Naughton who remained a valued friend for many years.
The hold that the Ardee Road Works held over Jack led to his return to the newly built workshop on the ‘site’ known to the men as Croke Park because of it’s size, and there with the American owned corrugated machine manufacturer, S.& S., Engineering, Jack returned in 1980, remaining with the firm until his retirement.
Retirement did not suit Jack’s active mind for with little interest in sport, or indeed gardening, he embarked on a second career, one that involved extensive research and writing.
He attended the library in Dundalk almost daily, not just to advance his knowledge, but to undertake research for his first book, ‘Dundalk-the Railway Town’.
Years and months of painstaking research became a lifetime ambition, for the railway was a subject close to his heart and that of his family.
He travelled widely to validate the smallest detail, and interviewed many former railwaymen before compiling a book, published by Dundalgan Press which was widely acclaimed and acknowledged as the most authentic of a number of books written about the GNR.
Having completed this major work, Jack wasn’t satisfied and his next major undertaking was to research a series of articles on well known personalities who had influenced many aspects of life in Dundalk.
One of the first such articles told the story of Tom Sharkey, born in a thatched cottage in Hill Street who fought for the World heavyweight title in 1899.
It was while compiling these articles that Jack encountered Kevin Mulligan, Editor of the ‘Argus’ in the reference section of the library and they struck up a friendship that endured and was beneficial to both.
Jack was encouraged to continue writing his articles not just on Tom Sharkey, but others like Dan Coyle who represented Ireland in the hammer event at the Olympic Games in London in 1948, and Joey Donnelly, perhaps Dundalk’s greatest ever soccer player.
He didn’t confine his articles to sportsmen, but also included others who shaped the social, cultural and economic fabric of the town, including Tomas MacAnna, Peadar O’Dowda, and
Monsignor Stokes, a controversial figure in his day.
Events too, which were significant landmarks in the history of Dundalk also became part of Jack’s mandate, and he worked tirelessly with great dedication to ensure accuracy at all times.
It was because of the interest that Jack generated in local personalities that he was persuaded by Kevin Mulligan and Alf Dwyer to publish those articles in book form, and the three, over a period of months, compiled Jack’s second book, ‘Voices of Dundalk’ again published by Dundalgan Press in 2008.
Launched with the help of Jack’s former colleague, Martin Naughton, the book was a great success.
There was yet another string to Jack’s bow for when he asked to consider taking over the job of the first obituary writer with the ‘Argus’ he relished the challenge with the same enthusiasm, dedication and meticulous attention he brought to anything he undertook.
Over the years he perfected a style of his own, with some of the phrases he developed becoming the subject of much comment, for Jack’s use of words, and his extensive vocabulary was called on as never before.
It was not Jack’s words however that endeared him to the relatives of the many about whom he wrote obituaries, for like everything Jack undertook in his life, it became a labour of love.
He is known to have spent hours with relatives talking about their loved ones, for above anything he accomplished in his long life, Jack was a ‘people’s person’ who just loved conversation, for he had an innate interest in people.
Jack continued to work with the ‘Argus’ until the retirement of Kevin Mulligan in 2007, and thereafter was still a very familiar figure on the town as he did his shopping and engaged everyone he met, especially when encouraged to talk about his beloved Dundalk and the railway.
For the last number of years after the death of his wife, Mary in 2015, Jack has been a patient in Blackrock Abbey Nursing Home where he was lovingly cared for and where he passed away peacefully early on Sunday morning.
Small in stature, but big in heart and mind, Jack McQuillan was a legend in his time, and if a new book is every compiled about people who have woven their talents into the social fabric of a town, then Jack must be included.
He is survived by his son, Sean (America), daughters, Freda (London) and Barbara (Australia), brothers, Bob and Don (both Dublin), son-in-law Colin, daughter-in-law Jennifer, sisters-in-law Teresa, Brigid, Ann, Josephine, Nancy, Bernadette and Philomena, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his wife, Mary (nee McKenna) and daughter, Anne who sadly died in America in 2013, only sister, Freda. and brothers. .
Sadly due to current restrictions on public gatherings, Jack will not get the send off that he deserves from the people of the town, but his Requiem Mass in the Church of the Holy Redeemer on Thursday, May 28th at 11.00 a.m. Will be streamed live.