The late Michael Coleman, Carrignagour, Lismore
A dark shadow was cast over Carrignagour, Lismore and the surrounding areas when news broke recently of the passing of Michael Coleman, who was called to his eternal reward on Tuesday, March 2nd.
Beloved husband of Noreen (nee Cody) and loving dad of Marie, Emma, Michael, Mairead and Paudie, Michael was predeceased by his parents Patrick and Mary, brothers Patrick, Andrew and James and his sisters, Eily Holland and Joan Power.
Michael was born on July 8th, 1935, sixth in a family of nine children of Patrick Coleman and Mary Arrigan. He attended Glengarra National School and left aged 13 to help on the family farm when his father became ill. He loved Carrignagour and was at his happiest when at home.
Michael was born to farm, he loved animals and the land. Strong and tough, built like wire, he was small in stature but big in heart, as he said himself “the best of goods come in small parcels”. He was a skilled farmer and could turn his hand to anything – milking cows, lambing a ewe, fencing, ploughing with horses. The harder the task, the better he liked it.
It has been said he was a great man to work and a great man to work with. He was a helpful neighbour and was often called upon when some animal or other needed assistance. Many was the hour he spent gathering sheep on the Knockmealdown Mountains. He regularly recalled the story of the pier that stands at the top of Knockmealdown. Many years ago he transported the materials needed to build this pier, to the summit. This involved multiple trips by foot using two horses to carry the supplies. This pier still stands today.
Michael was a skilled hand shearer and often stated that all the sheep he had sheared would stretch from Carrignagour to New York. He was runner-up in the All-Ireland Hand Shearing Competition many years ago, beaten into 2nd place by half a mark, a half a mark he never forgot!
For many years it was just Michael, his mother Mary and his brother Patrick at home. There were frequent visits from adored nephews and nieces from home and abroad. He had plenty of stories too, many which you couldn’t repeat! His nephew, Paudie, who never built that turkey house or his nephew, Barney, when he forgot to milk the cows. His nephew Paul worked with him for 12 years and Michael always complimented Paul’s hand shearing, even though he never could keep up with him.
His bachelor days ended when he married Noreen Cody in Clogheen, County Tipperary in November 1981. Over the next few years, their five children - Marie, Emma, Michael, Mairead and Paudie - arrived. He was a great father and worked so hard to make sure his family wanted for nothing. He made up stories for his children about bulls and cats, sang ‘Pretty Little Bluebird’ and ‘20 Froggies’. He was always there for his family and for that, they will be forever grateful.
He idolised his 3 grandchildren, Lauren, MJ and Coady and loved spending time with them and spins to the ‘Top of the Cross’ with Lauren were a great highlight for him.
Michael was very sociable, a real people person. He told yarns, which had people in stitches. He enjoyed going to the mart to catch up with his sheep farmer comrades. He was full of harmless devilment, loved the odd joke, his sister Joan was on the receiving end of many a prank phone call.
Extremely generous, no one every left the house without being fed and Michael would give you the food off his plate and the shirt off his back. He was happiest when he was giving. Michael was a teetotaller all his life – as Mattie often said, he was cracked enough without giving him drink!
A man of strong faith throughout his life, he enjoyed his weekly visit to Mass in Clogheen.
He played hurling with Glen Rovers, ran cross country, fished the Abhainn na Shead, enjoyed a game of 45 and in later years, watched the odd episode of Judge Judy or Home and Away.
Current restrictions mean that his family couldn’t give him the send-off he truly deserved. In recent days, a phrase he often used came to mind – “we’ll handle it with wonderful skill and there’ll be no mishap.” We hope we did you justice Michael. Ní bheidh do leithead ann arís – we will never see your likes again.
Michael lay in repose in the family home on Tuesday, March 2nd and Wednesday where Rosary and funeral prayers were recited. On Thursday afternoon, Michael’s coffin was shouldered through the farm yard for a final farewell by his sons, Michael and Paudie, his nephews Brian, Paul and Paudie Prendergast and Jamie Monahan. His funeral cortege then left the family home, led by his adored Toyota Corolla, travelling via the Mountain Barracks and pausing at the foot of Knockmealdown and at Noreen’s home in Monalour, en route to St Mary’s Church, Cappoquin where a private family funeral was held.
A large number of family and friends lined various parts of the route as a final farewell to Michael – social distancing was maintained at all times.
Michael’s funeral Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Pat Gear P.P. Symbols representing his life were brought to the altar by his granddaughter Lauren (sheep, heather and a hand shears - representing his skill as a farmer and his love of the mountain), daughter Emma (Farmer’s Journal and reading glasses - representing the joy he got from reading the newspapers), daughter Mairead (Rosary beads - representing the strong faith Michael held throughout his life) and grandson MJ (family photo - representing the love Michael had for his family and the joy he got from spending time with his much loved grandchildren). The significance of these was narrated by Jamie Monahan.
The readings during the Mass were recited by his son Paudie and daughter Marie, while the prayers of the faithful were read by his granddaughter Lauren, grandson MJ, niece Irene O’Brien and nephew Paul Prendergast. During the ceremony, lovely music and hymns were provided by Caroline Fraher. The offertory gifts were presented to the altar by Michael’s wife Noreen and daughter-in-law, Emma. A fitting eulogy was delivered by Michael’s son, Michael Jnr, giving an insight into Michael’s life, recounting fond memories and acknowledging the wonderful support received by the family during this sad time.
A fleece of sheep’s wool adorned the coffin as Michael was laid to rest in the family plot in St. Carthage’s Cemetery, Lismore as his favourite tune, ‘The Galty Mountain Boy’ provided a poignant musical background. Funeral arrangements were by O’Farrell Funeral Directors.
We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Noreen, sons Michael and Paudie, daughters Marie, Emma and Mairead, daughter-in-law Emma, Mairead’s partner Jamie, grandchildren Lauren, MJ and Coady, his brother John (New York), sisters May Prendergast (Carrignagour) and Kitty Harmon (New York), sisters-in-law Alice Coleman (New York) and Jackie Coleman (Sydney); also remembering the recently deceased Nell Coleman, nieces, nephews, cousins including Fr Michael Coleman (Japan), relatives and a wide circle of friends.
May he rest in peace.