Martin ‘John Mac’: a smiling pillar of the youth service
MARTIN John McGillycuddy of Knockanish, Ballyroe, Tralee passed away peacefully in University Hospital Kerry on 29th May, surrounded by his loving family. Martin would have celebrated his 63rd birthday on 18th August 2017. He was born at home in St. James Gardens Killorglin to parents Paddy and Nell (nee Foley) on 18th August 1954 and had one brother Michael. Martin attended National school and later the Technical School in Killorglin.
He came to Tralee in 1974 to do a welding course in ANCO. In 1976 he met his wife Kay at a dance in the Brandon Hotel. They married in 1981 and in 1983 moved to their home at St Brendan’s Park Tralee where they became very integrated into the neighbourhood. He remained in Tralee and worked in the Kingdom Tubes and later Burlington and Klopman. In 1995 he got a job as caretaker in KDYS Tralee which was based then in Day Place and later moved to the CYMS building on Denny Street after it was renovated, a job he really enjoyed and where he made many friends. Martin was known to everyone in the KDYS as ‘John Mac’. To workers and young people John Mac was the stronghold, pillar and smiling face of the KDYS. Everyone would agree that John Mac had a marvellous way with young people. He had a very direct way of engaging with young people and often setting them on the right road.
Besides his home and wife, Martin’s great loves were music, a few pints with friends on a Saturday evening in Tralee or Ardfert and most of all his dog ‘ Trixie’. Trixie strayed in on St Stephen’s Day when they went to Knockanish for Christmas and was the reason for relocating to Knockanish permanently as Trixie loved country life and after her passing ‘Buster’ became his friend. Martin loved GAA and spent many hours chatting to neighbours about results of matches etc. club and county and his beloved Laune Rangers were very important. Martin loved weddings or any celebrations which himself and Kay always attended with great gratitude for the invitation. Martin never missed Puck Fair; it was the annual pilgrimage for himself, Kay and Trixie – all booking in to St James Gardens for the week. Martin loved cutting the lawn and doing all jobs around the house, he always liked it to look neat and well kept.
Martin was diagnosed with Oesophageal Cancer on October 4th 2016, a date never to be forgotten by Kay, Mike, brother in law Ned, neighbours, relatives and many friends.
He bore his illness with great courage and dignity until his passing on May 29th 2017. Martin is sadly missed by his loving wife Kay, brother Mike, brother in law Ned, work colleagues, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.