PopularshopkeeperSean likedaslowerpaceoflife
THE communities of Curracloe and Wexford were united in grief recently following the death of Sean Sullivan.
72-year-old Sean, a popular retired Wexford town shopkeeper, died after a short illness. A
The second youngest son of the late John and Emily Sullivan, Sean grew up just off Ibar’s Villas on the Newtown Road and attended the CBS in George Street. He later attended the Boker CBS and St Peter’s College.
He then joined his father’s business, Sullivan’s drapery shop, at 45 North Main Street, a premises now occupied by Jack & Jones men’s shop. He was a member of the Boat Club and owned a varnished Ringaskiddy dingy and for a time took up water skiing.
When the shop was sold about 20 years ago Sean looked after his parents, and after they died he moved to Curracloe, quickly adapting to village life.
He took an interest in local history particularly the tradition of partying until dawn at the Raven Point on the longest day of the year, the Summer Solstice. He enjoyed this dawn revelry year after year. He was also active in the Curracloe branch of the Tidy Towns.
Sean drove at a leisurely pace usually at around 20 mph and 25 mph would be fast for him! The honking of car horns in the village usually meant Sean as driving and causing a tail back.
He often set out at 7.45 a.m. to drive into Wexford town but some Curracloe residents who had an 8 a.m. start in the town headed off early so not be stuck behind him as he drove ever so slowly towards Fahy’s Cross. All this was often the subject of good natured banter in Curracloe village.
When he became ill he was relieved to be admitted to Wexford General Hospital, where he was very well treated. There he had a stream of visitors. He was later moved to Knockeen Nursing Home in Barntown, where again he was very well treated.
He died peacefully in his sleep in Knockeen after a few days. He was buried in the church in Curraloe, a church he loved, after Requiem Mass celebrated by Father Kelly.
His ashes were scattered in the sea off Curracloe.
He is survived by sister Kay, her family, Bill, Elaine, their sons, Dan, Dermot and Pearse, also Kay’s son Jim and his partner Jay, Kay’s daugher, Emily. Sean is survived by two brothers, Stephen, and Aidan, and Aidan’s wife, Esther.