Delia Adams: A lady ever young at heart

Delia Adams, Coolgarrive, Killarney

IT was with shock and sadness that the announcement of Delia’s death was received on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 in St Columbanus Hospital in Killarney.

Delia passed from this life peacefully. Tears were shed and stories were told, however there was a sense of relief that her suffering was over.

Delia was born in Dublin near Malahide in 1935 – the same year Elvis Presley was born. Her parents were Carlow man James Nolan and Bridget Cronin from Killarney.

Delia was an identical twin to her sister Bernadette, and they were the youngest of six children. Her dad passed away when she was four years old, making her mom a young widow.

It was a tough time for the family, having no father in their lives, growing up in Dublin.

Delia arrived in Killarney when she was 16 years old. She was asked to help out in the running of Cronin’s pub on College Street with her aunt, Molly; and uncle, Squire Cronin.

She stayed there and met her future husband, Jim Adams – an Offaly man from Tullamore, who worked as an

Agricultural Instructor for the Department of Agriculture.

They married in 1959 and had seven children. Delia loved living in Killarney back in the ‘60s. She was often seen walking down College Street, pushing a pram, smiling in a mini-skirt, going for coffee and meeting friends.

Her catchphrase was “Any news?” She loved fashion, glamour and style: a free spirit with a sense of fun.

People would say after meeting Delia that she “would put a smile on your face,” with her great sense of humour and quick Dublin wit.

She loved dancing and could stay on the floor all night, dancing to her heart’s content. She also loved aerobics, through which she interacted with all the young people who enjoyed her sense of fun.

In 1969 Delia moved to Coolgarrive, Killarney. As children growing up in Coolgarrive, Delia and Jim had an open house where everyone was welcome.

This included friends, and the ‘cousins’ who were not cousins became cousins.

She loved dogs and cats. Her favourite dog was Skye – whom she often walked in Muckross, happy in her own company.

Delia was an independent, feminist woman, who always stood up for women’s rights. She loved the world of music, TV, and going to the pictures. She would often ask us: “any good picture on?” She was a member of Killarney Golf Club for many years; she loved the social side.

She was a mother who loved her family and grand-children; always supportive of all of us in whatever we wanted to do in life.

Delia’s husband, Jim, passed away in 1994 after 35 years of marriage, in what was a tough time for her.

She had a devotion to St Anthony and would often pray to him. Delia suffered a lot of family losses. She never expected to bury her two youngest sons, Pat and Declan; and grandson, Barry. Delia kept going and upheld a positive attitude; as she said: “that is what you do to honour their memory.”

The last three years were difficult for Delia. She did not like losing her independence. She found getting old hard as she was young at heart and never discussed her age, as she would say “mind your own business.” She bore her illness with dignity.

The family would like to thank everyone who was involved in Delia’s care. A special thank you to her daughter, Ruth, and Ruth’s husband, Martin, for caring for mum, being her companion and helping her to stay independent for as long as she could.

Also, thank you to the staff in Ardagh Ward of University Hospital Kerry and the staff in Killarney Community Hospital. A special thank you to the staff in Columbanus Nursing home in Killarney, where Delia spent her last few weeks. Thank you for the wonderful care that mum received and also for the support we as a family received when we visited.

A special thanks to Fr Kieran O’Brien for the wonderful Funeral Mass, which was a celebration of Delia’s life. As her remains were leaving the church, the Judy Garland’s song – “Somewhere over the Rainbow” was sung. The lyrics are: “Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, there’s a land that I heard of, once in a lullaby.”

No doubt Delia is at that place now with her loved ones.

Delia was laid to rest on Friday, November 29, in the beautiful setting of Aghadoe Killarney.

Delia is sadly missed by her sister Eileen; sons, Jimmy and Gerard; daughters, Adrienne, Karen and Ruth; son-in-laws, Stephen and Martin; daughters-in-law, Patricia, Laura and Marie; grandchildren; nieces; nephews; relatives and friends.

May the sod rest lightly upon her.

The Late Delia Adams