FORMER BALLYMOTE CHIPPER FETED
JOHN JOE HEALY WAS SURPRISED BY HIS FAMILY ON HIS BIRTHDAY
It was a special night for John Joe Healy in Ballymote last Saturday as family and friends turned up at his home to wish him a happy 80 th birthday.
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions there couldn’t be a party but his family made do with social distancing greetings and a cake.
The only son of John and Delia Healy Rathmullen, Ballymote, and brother to Joan and Annie May, like many others John Joe spent his early working life in England during the late 1950s, early 1960s on construction and also with British Rail.
John Joe returned to Ireland where he met his late wife Imelda who was aunt to the legendary Kerry footballer Paidi O Shea in 1969. Gaelic football was and still is his greatest interest.
From a spacious room in their home in Pearse Road, Ballymote, they catered for the local mart business providing home cooked foods and from a room at the back of the house, they opened Ballymote’s first take away chipper which became the focal point of many gatherings.
The demand for the good food they provided grew as the years went on and from here, they bought The Picnic Basket in Ballymote where they grew a thriving business, people from all over Ireland called in for the famous Full Irish Breakfast.
Imelda and John Joe had a great love of dancing particularly jiving, the mantle piece in their home displays their many awards they received for jiving over the years.
Sadly Imelda passed away in 2005, and their beloved son, Adrian in 2016.
Their daughters, Mary, who now manages and runs The Picnic Basket and Josephine live locally.
Son John lives in Sweden with his wife Pernilla, and they celebrated their wedding day in The Coach House Hotel in Ballymote in June of last year.
Ballymote became a cultural centre of Swedish guests mesmerised by the beauty and hospitality of the town.
John Joe’s adored grandchildren Laura, (who works in Canada), Niamh, Gemma, Shauna and Darragh have been taught much knowledge and life skills by their wonderful grandad.
His family were delighted to wish him a Happy 80 th birthday last Saturday.