REMEMBERING NOEL CRONIN
A cloud of gloom descended over the Kilglass area of Mitchelstown on January 11 when word filtered through of the passing of Noel Cronin and while not unexpected, it still came as a shock to his immediate family and friends. Noel did not enjoy the best of health in recent years, more so in recent months.
The only son of Paddy Cronin and Mary English, who would have been regarded as small farmers, Noel received his early education at Anglesboro National School. Not long finished school, fate dealt a cruel blow to the Cronin family when his mother Mary, was called to her eternal reward at a young age. His sister, Mary embarked on a teaching career, spending some time teaching in Anglesboro.
Noel worked the farm with his father, as well as assisting local agricultural contractor Danny Mullins; the principal work at that time was cutting and saving hay and the corn in the autumn. Back in the time Paddy used to set cabbage seed and would sell the young cabbage plants to people over a wide area, the most common place for selling at that time was at the creamery, when farmers would order the day before, they would be ordered in bundles of one hundred. The Cronin’s were well known for their generosity, as there was always a good number extra included for the price of a hundred.
As time went on, Noel expanded into nursery plants, trees and shrubs. He then had to travel to markets to sell these products on a regular basis each week, slowly building up a regular customer base that they were always very loyal to him. All were greatly saddened when Noel retired from the weekly markets a few years ago, he combined all this work with the normal work of a dairy farmer.
In the 1970s, Noel and his father expanded their farm following the purchase of a local farm which came on the market. When Noel was a young man, like all of his age group in the Anglesboro area, there was not much by way of entertainment except to play football with the local team or join the Liam Lynch Memorial Pipe Band. Not surprisingly, Noel choose the Pipe Band, perhaps taking a leaf from his grandfather, Jack English, who was one of the finest pipers over a wide area at the start of the 1900s, regularly winning competitions at Feiseanna, along with his brother Ned. Ned emigrated to Chicago and was a member of the Kevin Barry Pipe Band there.
The extended English family were well known for making their own musical instruments, such as bagpipes or violins. It was thought at the time that the best pipes were made from holly trees. Noel would have joined the band at a very young age playing the bagpipes and taking over as the bass drummer in later years. The band started in Anglesboro in the mid 1940s, having previously been in Mitchelstown in the 1930s. It had highs and lows in terms of numbers, going through its worst period in the early 1960s when the entire country was ravaged by emigration. While they didn’t entertain engagements in this period, Noel and a small number of others kept themselves in tune and in 1968, they reformed and took on outings again. They played for almost all Irish presidents, two American presidents, almost all Taoisigh at numerous sporting events, including Munster finals, festivals near and far including Puck Fair in Killorglin, County Kerry and commemorations. Perhaps their greatest moment was when they led the St Patrick’s Day parade in Chicago back in 1988. Noel also took on an officer role in the band and at the time of his passing, having given over 60 years service to the band, was chairman.
In 1977, Noel married Aíne Wallace from Kildorrery, County Cork and they settled in Kilglass raising a family of two boys and one girl, all joining the band in their own time. His son, Pa, continues to play the bagpipes, a set which were purchased second hand in the early 1930s at Crowley’s Music Shop in Merchants Quay, Cork. All are in agreement that they are the best set of pipes in the band. Pa played these pipes at his father’s funeral, where some of the present band members formed a socially distanced guard of honour, as the removal took place from his home to St Patrick’s Church, Anglesboro. Friends and neighbours stood silently on the road for their friend.
At the conclusion of requiem Mass, which was celebrated by Parish Priest Fr Dick Kelly, his grandson Pádraig gave a wonderful rendition of The Parting Glass. As a final goodbye, Kathleen Fitzgerald played the bagpipes at the graveside for their much loved friend and colleague, whom they will sorely miss, as he was laid to rest beside his father, Paddy.
May the green sward of your beloved Anglesboro rest lightly on your mortal remains. Ar deis lámh Dé go raibh a anam dilís.