The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Johnny Finucane: a pure gent
JOHNNY Finucane was born in Trieneragh, Duagh Co Kerry on 27 th June 1931 and sadly passed away at his daughter’s home in Aghadoe, peacefully on the 16th May 2017
He was educated in St Michaels College in Listowel. He worked at Moloney’s Garage in Listowel until he eloped with his beloved Agnes to Birmingham in 1952.
Johnny and Agnes were a devoted couple; they were married in a double ceremony with her brother Mossie and his wife Theresa in July 1954 and lived in Birmingham for 44 years.
He worked for The General Electric Company for over 30 years, receiving a gold watch for his loyal years of service. Sundays were spent with all the brothers, sisters, in-laws and children in Sutton Park, playing football or cricket and a trip to the local beer garden /pub for one on the way home!!!
They returned to their native land Duagh in 1997 on Johnny’s retirement. He refurbished the old home, where they lived happily, and eventually he diligently and lovingly cared for Agnes until 2013 when Agnes passed away.
They had four children, David who passed away suddenly in 1999, Margaret, Catherine and Eileen; Johnny smiled with pride in all they achieved and in return was loved beyond all words. He delighted in his five grandchildren and then doted on his great grandchildren in later years.
Johnny loved to spend his days in his beautiful garden with his dogs Bella and Ben; he also spent many a day in other relatives’ gardens attempting to share his love of beautiful lawns and flower gardens, and revisited his love of growing vegetables since living in Killarney.
His love of the sun and outdoors took him to many a foreign country: Australia, Turkey, France, Morocco, Dubai and Spain, where he took delight in recalling the experiences of people he met and the things he experienced, only recently reminiscing with the nurses who cared for him.
Johnny diligently did his lotto every week and waited… and indeed expected the big win!!
Fr Kieran, and Johnny’s nephew and friend Maurice made his Thursday evenings at the bingo in Killarney where he made many friends and had many wins… but more losses.
Despite his time in Birmingham, he never lost his love of all things Kerry. The Kerryman was always in the house and of course it had to be the North Kerry edition!!
He loved and supported the Kerry team. Manchester United and the Munster rugby teams were also a cause of delayed Sunday lunches...
Johnny loved his journeys to Fitzgerald stadium, Cardiff’s millennium stadium and Old Trafford to see his teams play all in the last ten years.
Over the last ten years, he became a great friend to the staff, residents and families of Our Lady of Lourdes Care facility, joining the residents and staff for meals and a chat, running errands to the many local doctors and Park Road Pharmacy.
Johnny was a loyal brother and friend to his brother Christy and only surviving sister Eileen in Brisbane. They all spoke few words but were united in their hearts.
Johnny was always there to lend a hand and that is why so many people loved and respected him.
Johnny was a quiet man but a very special person, so giving, thoughtful, hardworking, loving and very well respected.
A man of strength, stability and consistency in every life that he touched.
He was an intelligent, outstanding man.
There will never be another man like Johnny,
Our beloved dad, brother, granddad and great-grandad, uncle, father-in-law, brother-inlaw, cousin and friend.