Liam was a true family man who made friends wherever he went

A heartfelt tribute has been paid to William ‘Liam’ Clare, from Curragh Wood Inch, Gorey by his family following his passing on February 26 at almost 80 years old.

Liam Clare grew up in Curragh Wood Inch, Gorey and was the eldest son of Bill and Mary Clare. He was brother to Marita, Bernadette, Tom, Donal and the late Desmond. Husband of Mary, father to Sandra, Carol, Thomas, Liam and Danny. Grandfather to Adam, Caoimhe, Eimear, Lee, Conor, Erinn, Niamh, Willow, Matthew, Cian, Finley and Luke.

He was educated in Kilanerin National School and Gorey CBS. He left home at a young age and travelled across England working several jobs before returning home to start working for Sean Stafford in Gorey.

After meeting Mary they moved to Birmingham to work and got married there in St Theresa’s Church in 1969. Liam had some fantastic memories of kindness shown to them by Mary’s sisters and friendship shown to Liam by Tom Attridge, John King and Barry Holmes.

They returned to north Wexford and moved into Gurteen, Coolgreany where they spent 54 happy years. Liam worked for Stafford’s, Brennan’s Coal yard, Brennan’s Bread Arklow and in later years Brennan’s of Dublin, Comerford’s Cakes, Avonmore Milk and in his semi-retirement he worked for Boland’s Carpets Gorey.

Liam travelled the roads of south Wicklow and north Wexford throughout his life making friends wherever he went. He was always pristine in his shop coat, shiny shoes, clean shirt and tie and the hair brill-creamed perfectly in place. He was always happy working, always singing and whistling as he made his way from shop to shop.

All his life Liam worked and worked hard. He believed that no matter what went wrong in life that you had to get up and go to work, nothing can be achieved by lying down and giving up.

All of his children served their time with him in the Brennan’s of Arklow bread van. “We would arrive at the shop and he would open the van, hand us a sliced pan and send us off on our way into the shop alone to speak with the shop keeper without him. But then it was time to get out of his way or he’d be clipping your heels if you got in his way,” said Liam’s son Thomas.

Liam loved being in the thick of it and he was never happier than when he was involved in Coolgreany Celtic Football club, as a supporter, manager or proud parent. During the summer he would enter a team named “The Scat men” into the Gorey 7 a side tournament.

In recent years, he enjoyed his involvement in Coolgreany Handball Club and supporting his two grandsons around Ireland.

Liam was a big Aston Villa supporter his whole life and passed his passion on to the whole family. He enjoyed a pint with friends in O’Rafferty’s Pub, Coolgreany and was always found in his usual seat at the bar.

His family would like to thank all the staff and his friends for taking good care of him especially in the past two years.

Liam loved his garden and took great pride in his polytunnel and the mountain of produce he grew every year. He took care of the Inch road into the village for Coolgreany Tidy towns and gave plants each year.

Liam loved being around family and enjoyed hearing of his grandchildren’s involvement in dancing, drama, sport and music. He was very proud of them working and heading to college.

Dementia came into his life in the last two years. Liam took it in his stride and spoke to everyone about it and wore the badge with pride.

His determination to keep going with life was the way he was. He would get annoyed with not being able to do things and then laugh at himself.

In a recent session with a councillor, they asked him what he wanted out of life with dementia, he paused and answered, to walk up the wood and have a pint with friends. He achieved both in the days before his stroke.

Liam spent the last two weeks of his life in Wexford General Hospital and his family could not speak more highly of the care he received there.

The staff went above and beyond and Liam’s family will never forget their kindness, patience and understanding. They would especially like to thank everyone who attended the wake and funeral especially those who travelled, staff of St Mary’s and St. Bridget’s ward for all they did as well as the hospital clergy and Fr Brown.