Dick was voice of council for almost 40 years
DICK Phelan who died last week at the age of 82, worked as the telephone receptionist at Wexford County Council for almost 40 years up to his retirement in 2007.
Dick, a native of Ballouskill, Ballyragget, County Kilkenny, became blind through a hereditary illness at the age of 18 and trained with the National Council for the Blind in Dublin and also in the UK, becoming very accomplished as a reader of braille.
In 1969, he obtained a position as a telephonist with Wexford County Council where he was held in high regard as an efficient and conscientious employee. When Dick was on reception, no-one was ever kept waiting and he was adept at recognising people’s voices.
Former Wexford County Manager Eddie Breen recalled that when he was working in local government in other areas of the country after serving as Town Clerk in Wexford, he never got a chance to announce himself when ringing Wexford County Council. All he had to do was say ‘hello’ and Dick would immediately be in with ‘Howya Eddie’.
When Dick retired, he wasn’t enthusiastic about having a big farewell function but Mr. Breen who was then County Manager and Council staff decamped to Ozanam House where Dick was living and in mountain to Mohammed fashion, brought the party to him, making speeches and presenting him with a retirement gift.
When Dick came to Wexford, he lived in digs with Mrs. O’ Brien in Mary Street, an arrangement that lasted for 30 years up to 2000 when his landlady retired.
Weights and Measures Sergeant Tom Horan who was based in the County Hall and was involved with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the running of Ozanam House, was friends with Dick and suggested that he go to live there.
Dick resided in Ozanam House for 17 years until January of this year when he moved to Wygram Nursing Home where he received excellent care.
John Coady, former manager of Ozanam House remained friends with Dick after he retired and regularly brought him out for a few pints and to visit his late brother Paddy (who died last December) in the family home in Ballyouskill. He said he enjoyed a good quality of life up to Sunday, August 20 when he died suddenly in the nursing home a few days after celebrating his 82nd birthday.
Dick had a great interest in a wide range of music from opera to country and western and was exceptionally well-read. He also loved listening to the radio or the ‘speaking radio’ as he called it
A son of the late Con and Bridget Phelan, Dick is survived by his sisterin-law Rita Phelan; his nieces Margo and Breda and his extended family, neighbours and friends. He was predeceased by his brothers Con and Paddy.
He was buried in the family grave in Ballyouskill Cemetery following Requiem Mass in the Church of the Assumption Ballyouskill.
His funeral was attended by senior staff of Wexford County Council and representatives of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Wexford who turned up to pay their last respects.