MICK WAS SYNONYMOUS WITH COOLBOY HANDBALL
COOLBOY man Michael (Mick) Lennon lived a happy and full life, up until his passing at the age of 76 on Friday, February 1, 2019.
A man surrounded by a large and loving family, Mick was well known in his local community and during his lifetime, certainly contributed to making it a better place to live for many.
Despite being bothered by ill-health in his later years, Mick was not a man to complain and took health challenges in his stride.
He was born and reared on the famous Coollattin Estate in Shillelagh, at the time owned by Lord and Lady Fitzwilliam.
Both his parents worked on the estate, his mother processing milk and making butter and his father as head dairyman.
Mick enjoyed a happy childhood on the sprawling estate, living first where he was born in Lakeen house just outside the village of Shillelagh, and later in an estate cottage to the rear of what is today the Ardeen Cheshire Home.
It was in 1964 that Mick married Bernie, a native of Parkbridge. It was their 54th wedding anniversary the day that Mick passed away. Sadly, Bernie passed away 20 years ago and was buried on St Valentine’s Day.
Mick was also predeceased by his daughter Fiona in 2005, following illness.
As newlyweds, Mick and Bernie lived and worked in the UK for a few years before returning home to Wicklow, where they made their home in Coolboy and raised their five children.
Mick was a bus driver in those days in Dublin and later took a job at NET in Arklow, where he worked for 23 years before the factory closed down.
He then worked with FÁS until he reached retirement age.
Mick’s knowledge of the FÁS system was priceless as it equipped him with the knowledge to set about getting a project off the ground of which he was extremely proud.
Handball was one his biggest passions and it’s widely agreed that without Mick Lennon, there would be no handball alley in Coolboy.
Whether it was fundraising, arranging contractors or liaising with local people, Mick was there with his sleeves rolled up.
Mick was the driving force behind getting the handball alley built and, since the late ’80s, the village has produced countless world title holders and national and county champions.
Mick travelled all over the world cheer- ing on club members, even as far as Chicago and on occasion played himself, once winning a league medal with Jim Keyes, Pat Doyle and Richard Willoughby.
He had the honour of being the president of Wicklow Handball GAA until last year when he retired from the role.
He also loved GAA and was chairman of Coolboy GAA Club in 1985 when they won the Junior A Championship.
When he wasn’t following handball or football, Mick took an interest in soccer as well.
Outside of sport, Mick had a reputation as a great handyman and there was very little he couldn’t fix if he put his mind to it.
People from far and wide would often drop in items to be repaired, toasters, televisions and the likes, and Mick would often enlist his electrician sons to help him out at the weekends – and they knew if they called in to their family home there would be ‘always something to trick with’.
Mick was also a talented woodturner and loved nothing more than being out in his workshop creating a masterpiece.
He was a great man for the banter and was known throughout Coolboy for his friendly manner and dedication to sport.
Mick Lennon and Coolboy handball go hand in hand and the community is forever grateful for his contribution.
Mick was laid to rest in St Mary’s Graveyard, Coolafancy.
He is sadly missed by his loving sons Jimmy, David and Michael, daughter Caroline, sons-in-law Paul and Peter, daughters-inlaw Elizabeth, Sinead and Gail, grandchildren John, Niall, Wayne, PJ, Megan, Sean, Tiffany, Michael, James, Chelsea, Paige, Max and Emily, great grandchildren Pheobe and Ruby, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives and friends.
May he rest in peace.