SADNESS AT DEATH OF PROUD WEXFORD MAN SEÁN WHITE
A GREAT SENSE of shock and sadness surrounded the recent passing of well-known Wexfordman Seán White following a very short illness.
Seán (77), from Croke Avenue, died on February 14 in Wexford General Hospital, after suffering a massive stroke.
His beloved sister, Maureen, had passed away six days earlier and many believe that he just couldn’t go on without her.
A proud Wexford man, Seán was born, raised, lived and died in Croke Avenue, rarely leaving his beloved home town or county, except for work-related trips and outings to Croke Park to support Wexford GAA.
The youngest of six children, he was reared in a loving environment and was doted on by his parents, William and Mary Kate.
Like many of his generation he started his working life at a very young age as a barman in Gaynor’s Pub in Wygram. Despite showing great promise as a barman in that establishment, it wasn’t for him and before the age of 20 he left to work in Stafford’s on John Street where he stayed for the rest of his working life until his retirement in the year 2000.
Also known as Ga or Briarn, he loved his work in Staffords and he travelled the length and breadth of the county and beyond, delivering beer, wine and spirits to pubs near and far. He wouId also regularly do ‘the boat trip which sometimes meant having to travel over and back on the Fishguard or Le Havre ferries, but he never actually left the boat so technically he never left Ireland!
And, of course, he was very proud of his part in the manufacture and bottling of Stafford’s famous ‘Brazil’ orange which was known throughout the land. He loved the craic with his workmates in John Street and later out in Drinagh, and he made some great friends during his 40 years of employment there.
He had a great love of sport. While not a big soccer fan, he was, in fact, one of the founding members of North End United in the early ’70s but the ‘foreign’ game always played second fiddle to hurling and Gaelic football, especially when Wexford teams were playing.
From Dublin to Thurles, Kilkenny to Carlow and beyond he travelled to support the Purple and Gold, and while victories were not always forthcoming, the sessions on the way home after the match more than made up for disappointment on the field. Many’s a time ‘The Croppy Boy’ or ‘Carrig River’ were sung in hostelries all over the country in the company of great friends and supporters.
Horse-racing was his passion. From the blue chip festivals like Cheltenham and Aintree to the small local meets in Wexford and beyond, Sean loved a flutter. Never a big gambler, but always a consistent one, he would often tell you that if it hadn’t been for this one horse, he’d have won a fortune! But this didn’t stop him and right up to his passing he was still sending his brother, Jem, over to the bookies to do the bets before a day in front of the races on telly.
Seán had a devotion to family as well, none more so than to his beloved sister Maureen. Having been hospitalised with Alzheimer’s some years ago and resident in Abbeygale House, she was visited twice daily by Seán, come rain, wind or snow, and he was an enormous help to Maureen’s husband Dano during this time also. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, and the final verse of a poem written by his work mates at the time of his retirement is the perfect farewell to a wonderful friend and colleague.
‘Seán, we wish you all the very best, Now you can take a well earned rest. These few words we dedicate and say, A true friend to all, come what may! He is survived by his brothers, Jem and Tom; brother-in-law Dano; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his sisters Madge and Maureen and his brother Billy.
Sean was interred in St Ibar’s Cemetery, Crosstown, on Friday, February 16, following Requiem mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rowe Street.