Obituary - Joe McCraith, Parsons Green, Clogheen
The sudden and tragic passing of Joe McCraith, Parsons Green, Clogheen, Cahir, Co. Tipperary on Sunday, 27th February has evoked feelings of profound sorrow and deep shock in the local community of Clogheen and far beyond.
Joe, precious and adored son of Catherine (nee Crowley) and the late Michael McCraith and a treasured brother to David, Philip and Denis, was born on August 21st, 1996. Though his life was short, he touched the lives of more people and made more of an impact on such a huge number of people than most people do in an entire lifetime. The headline in the Daily Mirror read ‘Family “heartbroken” as tributes pour in after tragic death of popular Irishman’. His smile “lit up a room”, as tributes poured in for a young man with “a beautiful soul.
The condolence section of RIP was flooded with glowing tributes to the much-loved son, brother, care-assistant and friend. Words used to describe Joe included “beautiful”, “kind”, “exceptional”, “lovable”, “caring” and “gentleman”, who was “a pleasure to work with” and was a “wonderful young man”. Such positive attributes of this beautiful young person who reached out to so many.
Joe completed his primary school education in St Mary’s National School, Clogheen where he made beautiful memories and gained lifelong friends. He went to Blackwater Community School (BCS) in Lismore and Coláiste Dún Iascaigh in Cahir for his secondary education, again making a huge impact on all his teachers and fellow students with his gentle nature and sense of humour. While in 5th Year in BCS, Joe went on a trip to Lourdes as a helper and this experience had a lasting impact on him and was something he often spoke about with fond memories. At such a young age, he showed huge compassion and empathy for sick people and took great pleasure in caring for the sick in Lourdes.
After completing second level, Joe started an apprenticeship in steel fabrication with Buttimer’s in Cahir. His calling was always to the care of people, so he undertook a PLC in Nursing Studies and then went on to do an honours degree in Social Care.
Joe then worked as a care assistant in Padre Pio in Cappoquin, Dungarvan Community Hospital, Damien House, as well as in South Tipperary General Hospital. He also spent time working with Bernardos in Clonmel where his compassion and understanding was truly recognised by both staff and children. All who encountered Joe, both patients and staff alike, had the same glowing tributes to pay, all citing how safe he made everyone feel, what a Trojan worker he was and what a pleasure he was to work with.
‘THE LIFE AND SOUL OF THE PARTY’
Over the course of the last year Joe had again changed career and was working with Nelgara Steel, where again he met a huge circle of friends and work colleagues and showed a great flair for welding. No matter what task Joe took on he always approached it with dedication and determination and saw it through to the end and was always very proud of his achievements and rightly so.
Joe was a very popular young man and had a huge circle of friends who he met regularly. He enjoyed a great social life and was always “the life and soul of the party”. He had many hobbies, including hurling, football and soccer in his younger years. He enjoyed going to the gym, walking and climbing. There are lovely photographs of Joe on top of all the local mountains, but the most treasured one is with his family on top of Knockshanahullion in Clogheen at Christmas.
Joe was also interested in horseracing and spent a memorable day in Leopardstown in January. His favourite sport was boxing, and he was a treasured member of Dungarvan Boxing Club, where again Joe had lots of friends and made a huge impact on all, both the older and younger members. One of his most memorable times with the club was the wonderful trip to Newcastle which he really enjoyed. He often spoke about how much he was looking forward to the boxing trip to Australia with Dungarvan Boxing Club next year.
‘MOST BEAUTIFUL OF SOULS’
Joe lay in repose at his home in Clogheen on Thursday, March 3rd and Friday 4th, where many people came to pay their last respects and share wonderful memories of a life so well lived. Joe’s family listened to glowing tributes of a wonderful young man from all who came to the house to console his grieving family.
Fr. Bobby Power PP Clogheen, Fr. Michael Cullinan PP Lismore and Fr. Matt Cooney, St Agustin’s Dungarvan, all offered huge support to Joe’s family and said prayers for the repose of his soul at the house. On Saturday morning Joe was removed from his home and brought to St. Mary’s Church in Clogheen for requiem Mass, which was concelebrated by Fr. Bobby Power, Fr Michael Cullinane and Fr. David Keating, Chaplain WIT. The road from the house to the church was lined with friends, neighbours and local community groups who made up guards of honour to show huge respect for such a wonderful person who left us far too soon.
Music was provided in the church by Donal Kennefick, Becky and Ellen McCloskey, Seamus and Saibh Hennessy who enthralled the congregation with a lovely selection of hymns and songs throughout the Mass. Andrew Allen explained the symbols which were brought to the altar representing of Joe’s life, by Sean Povey, Craig Dunne, Philip, David and Denis McCraith, Stephen O’Driscoll, Rian Hennessy, Saoirse Coffey and Anne-Marie Allen. The Mass readings were by Alice Murray and Miriam McGuire. Prayers of the Faithful were read by Conor Murray, Rian Hennessy, Ray and Donna Crowley, Philip and Denis McCraith, Dylan Flynn, Mark McCraith and Kayleigh O’Donnell.
The post Communion reflection was read by Joe’s mother, Catherine, where she asked people to focus on the many positive aspects of Joe’s life.
“You can cry and close your mind Be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what Joe would want: Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.” After Mass was celebrated, Joe was taken to his final resting place in Shanrahan New Cemetery followed by a huge cortege of mourners, many of whom helped to bear the coffin to the cemetery. Very Rev. Fr Bobby Power officiated the graveside prayers where Joe was laid to rest in the presence of his loving family and many friends, relatives and colleagues. A lovely version of ‘We Will Meet Again’ was sung by Seamus and Saibh Hennessy.
In a very fitting eulogy Catherine described Joe as a wonderful son who lit up our lives for twenty-five wonderful years. She said he was no trouble to have and certainly no trouble to rear and that as a family, they were immensely proud of Joe’s achievements. Fr. Cooney, who called to the house to say prayers, said that from what he had read on the condolences section of RIP, that this man was indeed a saint. Catherine totally agreed with this and said that St. Joe had started work immediately, giving us fine weather, making sure that his friend called early to the house to find him on Sunday morning and ensuring that she didn’t throw out the beautiful bouquet of flowers that he gave her for Valentine’s Day, and which could now be pressed and made into beautiful memories. She agreed with Fr. Cooney and said that people should now start praying to St. Joe and be reassured in the knowledge that both he and his dad Mike will be looking out for us all from their Heavenly home. She thanked everyone for the huge outpouring of support shown to her and her family at this very difficult time.
“You are our handsome, gentle man with the most beautiful of souls, with heartbreak and tears we now have to realise that you are not here anymore. Without your kind words and thoughtful caring deeds this world and all of us are far poorer indeed. We will miss you and your handsome, kind, smiling face. You were one of life’s true angels. You were ‘the best of us’”.
Joe’s sad passing is also deeply mourned by his uncles Marcus McCraith, Michael Crowley and the late Liam Crowley, aunts Anne-Marie Allen and Alice Murray, grand-uncle Denis O’Donnell, cousins, relatives, neighbours and a huge circle of work colleagues and friends.
Funeral arrangements were by Aidan Walsh and Sons, Funeral Directors, Cappoquin and Tallow.
MONTH’S MIND MASS
Joe’s Month’s Mind Mass and Mike’s 3rd Anniversary Mass will be jointly celebrated in St Mary’s Church, Clogheen, Co Tipperary on Sunday, 24th April at 12.30pm.