Annie lived life to the fullest and had a welcoming nature
THE community of Blackwater was united in grief recently following the passing of Annie Walsh, Crosshue. She passed away suddenly but peacefully at her home during the early hours of Sunday, December 13 2020.
Annie, the eldest of two daughters of the late Aidan and Catherine Byrne, was born in May 1945. She attended National School in Blackwater and continued her education at Loreto Secondary School, Wexford as a boarder; only being allowed home four times during the School Year – Halloween, Christmas, Shrove Tuesday and Easter.
After completing her schooling Annie worked in the County Hall; during this time, she was sent to London for six weeks to learn how to use the computer being installed by Wexford County Council, which by all accounts was the size of a small room.
This was a long way from the tablet that she used in recent times to watch Mass or for family video calls.
In September 1968 Annie married John Walsh from Knocknasillogue, Blackwater. As was necessary at that time she had to leave her job in the County Hall, as married women could not work in the public sector.
However, this ban did not apply to the teaching profession and Annie took up teaching roles in Ballyvaldon and Blackwater National Schools over the following years.
She also worked in Kehoes General Merchants both in Selskar and Blackwater, on a part-time basis over a number of years. Annie and John began married life living in The Village, before moving to Crosshue in 1979 to live with her father Aidan.
With six children, they immersed themselves in family life; it meant a busy household but neighbours and friends were always warmly welcomed.
Along with her sister Rita, Annie had a very keen interest in genealogy and local history and was frequently called upon to verify information for family trees or records.
Her interest in local history was very much to the fore in the preparations for bi-centenary celebrations of the 1798 Rebellion. She was a member of the Blackwater Comoradh ’98 Committee and attended many of the gatherings held throughout the county in 1998.
It was during the Oulart Hill 1798 Commemoration in May 1998 that Annie’s husband John took ill and he sadly passed away on June 18 of that year.
A lifelong member of Fine Gael, Annie was by her husband John’s side while he was a member of Wexford County Council, up to the time of his untimely passing.
She was very proud when their son Oliver went on to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a County Councillor himself along with serving as Chairman of Wexford County Council.
Throughout her life, Annie had a keen interest in all things equestrian, which she passed on to her children, she was very proud to have been featured in The Irish Field last summer as the registered breeder of twin foals; a rare occurrence.
Although having been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1989 and confined to a wheelchair for over 20 years, Annie did not allow this to restrict her and she enjoyed life to the best of her ability.
A lover of entertainment, she was a frequent visitor to drama or musical performances be it locally in Blackwater, the National Opera House or Spiegeltent. Annie also loved to attend social gatherings and would never be first to leave an event.
She was a member of MS South Wexford and enjoyed attending weekly physio classes, Christmas parties and outings. Her social and welcoming nature meant that she loved to have visitors call to her home and it was a great delight to her over the last few weeks of her life that the restrictions had been eased a little and her friends and neighbours could once again call in for a chat.
It is of great comfort to her family that Annie was able to be cared for in her home, with the support of carers. Annie had a deep faith throughout her life and had a particular devotion to Our Lady.
She was a frequent visitor to Our Lady’s Island and travelled to Lourdes on numerous occasions with the Diocesan Pilgrimage, the last time being in May 2017.
In 2009 she completed a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry at Wexford Campus of IT Carlow, as a nominee of Blackwater Parish. Annie attended Mass weekly and in recent times with Covid-19 restrictions she tuned into Mass via the parish webcam.
Annie is survived by her six children Maria Moran (Limerick), Aideen (Dublin), Oliver (Blackwater), Dermot (Tipperary), Claire Doyle (Blackwater) and Joe (Blackwater). She will be greatly missed by her sister Rita Carroll (Blackwater), daughters-in-law Elaine, Aoife and Pauline, sons-in-law Sean, Paddy and Aideen’s partner Jeff along with her thirteen grandchildren Cathal, Isabell, Jack, Aine, Charlotte, Rory, Ollie, Darragh, Sam, Bobby, Ruby, Emily and John.
Annie’s Month’s Mind Mass will be celebrated at 11.15 a.m. on Sunday, January 17 2021 and can be viewed on www.ipcamlive.com/blackwaterchurch