Energetic Mary always welcomed her family, friends and neighbours

ON Monday October 31, 2016 Mary Reidy of Kielduff slipped away peacefully from this life in her 96th year. Born Mary Theresa King at Clash Tralee on January 24, 1921, she was the second eldest of Tommy and Bridget (Née Galvin) King’s six children: Patrick, Mary, Gary, Breda, Michael and Brendan.

Growing up on a farm in those turbulent times when the new State was trying to find its feet posed many challenges to its citizens. Later the Economic War brought further hardship and deprivations but enduring all this made Mary into a very resilient and steely women for life ahead.

Being drawn to the caring professions, she desired to be a nurse. However, she felt that she was more needed at home in the short term and worked on the farm during all the spring of her life. This involved selling full-fat fresh raw milk to all the denizens of a growing town where most of the market was cornered in the ‘Boorabee’ east end area. Transported via donkey or pony and cart, traffic was light and her only obstacle was the train and the railway gates. After that she was in ‘open waters’.

This paid handsome dividends for the area and Mary often said she was not a bit surprised at the never-to-be forgotten achievement of those local sturdy and vigorous boys who back-boned the John Mitchell’s famous five-in-a-row squad. Pure milk bred pure football! Her social scene revolved around Clash Hall and dancing to all the best bands of the time and this was a passion of hers always. More than likely, it was there she met Jeremiah Reidy of Kielduff, lover of greyhounds, football and all things coursing. After a ‘long slip’ they wed in 1955, a momentous year for Kerry football. Over the years they welcomed three children, Michael, Tom and Mary, which brought great joy.

Mary was adapt and resourceful in dealing with new challenges and cared for her father-in-law for over 30 years. With the quick wit and banter of the town she made for lively company and endeared herself to many. Having endless energy she always welcomed extended family, neighbours, cousins, siblings and strangers. Whether it was trips to the bog, the meadow or fishing trips, there was no fear that supplies would run short. Growing up among the blossoms in Clash, apple tarts were her speciality but the real prize was the Dundee cake at Christmas. Other favourites such as black currant jam in July or black puddings in November always had her stamp.

Time out was attending the ‘Socials’ during the winter. Meeting up with friends and neighbours at either the Lee Strand, the Mart or the Greyhound Social was her version of a cruise holiday and her favourite was Danny Diggins RIP in Ballyroe. Like many before her, she encountered rough seas too in her life culminating in the loss of her husband Jerry in 1992, her life long stalwart friend Bridget Scanlan in 2005 and her beloved daughter Mary Woods in 2012 but bore it all with great fortitude thanks to her unshakeable faith in the living Jesus. Always closed to her siblings she was predeceased by her brother Michael in 1990, Paddy in 1999, Gary and Breda 2010 and nephew James in 2015. Her brother Brendan, frequent visitors and sisters-in-law Chrissie and Margaret, her many friends and good neighbours were a great consolation in her final years. That was Mary Reidy.

The late Mary Reidy