The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Declan bore illness with dignity and was loved by all he met
IT was with shock and sadness that the announcement of Declan’s death was received on Friday morning the third of August, in the Marymount Hospice Cork. Declan passed from his life in the company of his partner Sandra and was surrounded by his loving family. Tears were shed and stories were told, however there was a sense of relief that his suffering was over. Last January Declan was 47 when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer stage four. He fought bravely with a very progressive illness until he passed away. His acceptance of his illness brought out the best in everyone who knew and loved Declan. Relatives and friends who visited wept, laughed, offered their upmost support to Declan and Sandra in thought word and action. Declan had a great sense of humour, he was loved by all who came into contact with him right till the very end of his life.
Declan was born in Coolgarrive in Killarney, the youngest son of Delia and Jim Adams the youngest of seven siblings. He went to school in St. Brendan’s College Killarney, had a lovely childhood, he loved Man United, pitch and putt, soccer, cycling to school, animals especially his cats, “The Sunday Game”, the Legion Football Club and Killarney golf club where he did caddying on school holidays. He had a strong devotion to his family as he followed the family tradition and qualified as a psychiatric nurse in the early 90’s in Peterborough in the UK. He loved nursing he worked in St Brendan’s Hospital in Dublin, also worked as a drug rep for a number of years based in Cork. He set up home in Ballincollig.
He was involved in Ballincollig GAA Club; a selector for the under 21’s football team who won their first title in 2009. Declan was exceptional in the arts he had an artistic temperament as he was a member of the Killarney Musical Society and took part in two productions. The wonderful production of Oliver in 1992 he played the role of Fagan which was the rogue character and then in 2009 the villain Bill Sikes. He also performed with the Rathgar and Rathmines Musical Society in the Concert Hall in Dublin and was a member of the Clane Musical Society in the production “Me and My Girl”. He had a passion for music U2, Bruce Springsteen and Christy Hennessy he enjoyed a good sing song.
He was involved with the Cork Mental Health Association working with Suicide Aware, he created “The Amber Flag” for young people to promote positive mental health across secondary schools and also trained as a Life Coach. Declan had a great love of life he had many personal qualities for example caring, creative, a rogue, a great sense of humour “human”. An independent man, a very proud Kerry man although living in Cork. When his brother Pat passed away from Motor Neuron Disease in 2006, he kept his memory alive by arranging a golf classic for a number of years in memory of his brother. On behalf of our family we would like to thank his partner Sandra for her loving care and kindness with Declan throughout his illness.
Declan was not one to suffer fools gladly and a sensitive soul, he appreciated the simple things in life, going for walks, family, cousins and friends. He was a fighter right till the end and he bore his illness with dignity. The family would like to thank everyone who was involved with Declan’s care, the Palliative Care Team, the Marymount Hospice in Cork, all those people who supported him and friends. Declan was laid to rest on Monday August 6 in the beautiful setting at Aghadoe Killarney.
Remembered with love by his partner Sandra, his mother Delia and siblings Jimmy, Gerard, Adrienne, Karen, Ruth. Sister in law’s Marie, Patricia, Laura and brother in law’s Stephen and Martin. Also his nieces and nephews, all his extended family and friends. “May he rest in peace”.