The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Obituary
ON the morning of Monday, December 3, the death at the age of 81 after a long illness occurred in St Anne’s Hospital, Cahersiveen of Michael (Bobby) O’Shea of Lower Corobeg, Valentia (pictured right).
Born on September 8, 1937, he was very much a Valentia Islander. He was a man of the land and hard graft, who never shirked the challenges of the bog, saving the hay or general work on the family farm. “He liked to do it the hard way’’ as his son, Patrick, explained in his eulogy.
Locally and affectionately referred to as ‘Bobby’, he was a very familiar figure on the highways and byways of Valentia Island in his 35 years employed as a road maintenance man with Kerry County Council. He succeeded his uncle, Timmy Falvey, in this occupation and for many years worked in road, ditch and drain maintenance beside his good friend, the late Pat Joe Townes of The Lotts.
With the aid of shovel, slashers and scythe, they maintained the roads, drains and ditches from Bray to Knightstown and always ensured the water ran freely off the roads without blockage. It was a hard occupation in all kinds of weather, but it was done very efficiently until retirement.
Sadly, illness took him from the social scene of Valentia Island and Portmagee, where his tongue teasers were locally renowned, especially when he and his late friend, Tim Murphy, got together.
They would pose such questions as to how many Murphys lived in the ‘Foot’, or perhaps how many houses were derelict or occupied in a certain townland. Bobby would always throw out a puzzle or mathematical problem to be debated and solved, or would cast a dubious and questioning eye when his good friend, John Lynch, would tell a story. His turnip size competition with the late John Devane of Portmagee has become part of local folklore, as is the memorable cow-dosing display enacted by John and himself in The Moorings Bar of Portmagee.
He performed his work the hard, honest and dignified way of the time-honoured and trusted, traditional fashion of Valentia Islanders gone before him. God rest him.
His Funeral mass in Chapeltown and subsequent burial in Kilmore were performed by Fr Patsy Lynch of Portmagee. Church readings were performed by family members, with a song rendered by his daughter, Bridget; a poem by his daughter, Kathleen; and a talk on his life and times by his son, Patrick. His wife, Vera, recited a graveside decade of the rosary to be followed by a recorded traditional Irish song as an appropriate tribute to his life.
Sincere condolences to his wife, Vera; sons, Joe, Gerard, Michael and Patrick; daughters, Kathleen and Bridget; daughters-in-law; son-in-law; brother-in-law; nieces; nephews; and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Teresa; son John; and daughter, Mary Teresa. Solás na bhFlaitheas dó.