The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Man of great faith who loved the simple things in life
JEREMIAH (Jerome) King of Bromore, Ballybunion died on July 28 in University Hospital Tralee, surrounded by his loving family. Jerome passed away after a short illness at the age of 92.
Jerome was born on April 16, 1926, one of three siblings born to Minnie (nee O’Carroll) and Jimmy King, Tullabeg, Ballybunion. Siblings Johnny and Nancy are deceased.
Jerome was the last surviving member of the King family. Jerome spent his early year in Ahafona, Ballybunion where he had so many happy memories and up to his death spoke so fondly of them. He moved to Tullabeg and spent his teenage years working on the family farm, with his parents, brother Johnny and sister Nancy (Hamilton).
Jerome went to London in the 50s to work on the buildings where he picked up a lot of trades that served him well in later life. He met his wife Kit, who was from a neighbouring townland of Bromore in the Galteemore and they were married for 60 years. They went on to have three children, Jimmy, Marian and Maurice. They moved back to Bromore in 1972.
Jerome was great whether in the meadow, bog, gardening or tending to cattle, but his greatest love outside of his wife was his vegetable garden. He always had to have new spuds for Kit’s birthday on June 30.
Jerome was a great man to kill and salt a pig and was called upon by many of his neighbours to perform this.
Jerome had great interest in Kerry and Beale GAA, where the King Family took an active role on and off the pitch. He always listened to the matches on the Kerry Radio and would wait impatiently for the phone call to hear all about the game. Jerome was a very proud man when Beale won the North Kerry Championship in 2014 and when the cup came to Dromore, he enjoyed a good drink out of it.
Jerome had great faith and everyday, himself and Kit would say a rosary or two. They also looked forward to visits from the priest, Fr Hanafin, and before that Fr Spring.
Jerome had a great respect for the doctors and nurses, and he would speak very highly about the care he got from them.
Jerome was a great man to trace relations, and many a person came to the house to do a family tree; even at 92 years of age, his memory was always perfect.
Jerome loved the simple things in life and loved meeting and talking to young and old. He was a friendly and jolly man. He loved to socialise in Ballybunion or the mart in Listowel and in later years in Tralee, where he got a great welcome.
Jerome was an outstanding husband, dad, father-in-law, grandad, great-grandad, neighbour, and friend. His death has left a huge void in the lives of his heartbroken wife Kit, Maurice, Jimmy, Jeremy, Marian, and a large circle of friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.