FAREWELL, MRS MOONEY
ONE OF GREYSTONES’ MOST BELOVED FIGURES, BRIDIE MOONEY, IS LAID TO REST
THERE was applause for the ‘Queen of Greystones’ last Friday, as people lined Trafalgar Road to bid Mrs Bridie Mooney a fond farewell.
She passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 23, in the care of Greystones Nursing Home and surrounded by her devoted family.
Generations of customers of all ages had patronised Bridie Mooney’s shop since 1955. She had a special place in her heart for the children who bought sweets there after school. A basket of sweets was placed alongside flowers with Mrs Mooney’s coffin, representing that special relationship she had with youngest of the town’s residents.
She retired five years ago, on that occasion bringing Greystones to a standstill as well-wishers congratulated her and paid tribute to a most beloved woman.
Mrs Mooney and her late husband Robert bought the Trafalgar Road shop in 1955 after a number of years trading in a nearby rented premises.
She had seven children, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Bridie will be very sadly missed by Patrick, Agnes, Teresa, Thomas, Brigid, Áine and Bob, all of her family members, wide circle of friends, and loyal customers from across the decades.
GREYSTONES came to a stop last Friday lunchtime as the church bells rang, announcing the final journey of the town’s most beloved matriarch, Mrs Bridie Mooney.
The people observed a moment of silence and dimmed their lights at 1 p.m. Applause then followed the hearse from Mrs Mooney’s Trafalgar Road home and shop of 65 years, to the Holy Rosary Church, for a private Funeral Mass.
A basket of sweets placed among flowers and other items acknowledged the presence of Mrs Mooney in the lives of the generations of children who crossed the shop threshold on their daily journey home after school.
Mrs Mooney passed away on Wednesday, September 23, just a few weeks after her 91st birthday, peacefully and surrounded by her devoted family.
For over 60 years she stood sentry at the counter of her Trafalgar Road shop, until she retired on Christmas Eve of 2015 – on that occasion too, she brought the town to a standstill. Unprecedented crowds gathered outside the shop that afternoon to congratulate her and wish her a happy and healthy retirement. They formed queues to shake her hand as Bridie’s family looked on in pride.
That ubiquitous sense love and fondness for an icon and legend was still in the air last week, although now tinged with sadness at the passing of ‘The Queen of Greystones’.
Mrs Mooney and her late husband Robert bought the Trafalgar Road shop in 1955 after a number of years trading in a nearby rented premises.
She had seven children, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Bridie will be very sadly missed by Patrick, Agnes, Teresa, Thomas, Brigid, Áine and Bob, all of her family members, wide circle of friends, and loyal customers from across the decades.
It marked the end of an era when she decided in 2015 to retire – as she said herself – ‘in my fine old age and take some time to myself’.
She had a lovely bright smile and warm manner. She was kind, loving and wise, and remembered the names of every single child who brought their custom to her business. She had a few words and a warm welcome for all of them.
The last generation to buy sweets from Bridie had been preceded by their parents and grandparents.
One of those children was Minister Simon Harris. ‘We are all heartbroken in Greystones at the news of the passing of the much-loved Mrs Bridie Mooney,’ he said. ‘Mrs Mooney was an institution, a pillar of our community, and one of our best known residents.
‘We all have so many memories of her. I will always remember her kindness and how she got to know us all going in and out of the shop. She was one of a kind. I am so sad to hear this news, thinking of all her family and her wide, wide circle of friends.’
When not devoting her time to her family and work, she loved to travel, with destinations such as Australia and Mexico among her itinerary.
‘We were happy and contented here,’ said Bridie on her retirement. ‘I have loved my job and I will be lonely for it.’
She said that the children who came in to buy sweets over the years, particularly from St Brigid’s and St David’s, were very well behaved, well-mannered and had respect for the shopkeeper and her staff.
Mrs Mooney was always supportive of local groups, selling their tickets and items and keeping track of events. She gave outstanding service to her community throughout her life.
She has also been a community facilitator, passing on messages to people, taking deliveries of packages, and putting people in touch. If someone was looking for a babysitter, for example, Mrs Mooney would be the person to recommend someone.
Bridie’s children received excellent training for their later careers in life as they grew up in the business.
A native of Carlow, Bridie came to Greystones after meeting Robert and was delighted to have ended up in the town.
‘I loved it from the first time I saw it and I wouldn’t go anywhere else,’ she said in 2015. ‘All my neighbours are very good to me.’
She was laid to rest last Friday afternoon in Redford Cemetery.