Barry was involved in printing for over 50 years
The late Barry Duggan
THE people of Carlow town and district were deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden but peaceful passing at his residence on Friday 9 January of Barry Duggan, Bluebell Lodge, Old Dublin Road.
Barry, who would have celebrated his 80th birthday on 22 February, was a proud Carlovian, who was involved in commercial printing for more than 50 years and was proprietor of the former newspaper.
He was a member of a well-known and highly respected Carlow town family, known widely as Duggans of The Cross, Dublin Street. Duggans had a shop premises at that location for many years.
Barry was a popular man in the local community, being of quiet disposition. Many of the messages of sympathy on social media referred to him as a complete gentleman, an individual with a warm and charismatic personality.
Educated at primary and secondary levels in Carlow town by the Christian Brothers, Barry was a member of successful CBS football teams at underage county championship level, usually playing in midfield or centre forward. He went on to play with both Carlow town teams of that era, Éire Óg and O’Hanrahans.
When Barry gave up football, he took up golf, which became a life-long passion. He was a long-time member of Carlow Golf Club.
The importance of the sport in Barry’s life was reflected in the fact that a golf club was brought forward by his grandson Seán as one of the symbols of his life during his funeral Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption on Thursday morning, 15 January.
Barry met Aileen Slattery from Milltown, Co Kerry in Carlow at a time when Aileen worked for the Irish Sugar Company. They initially went to live in Manchester, marrying in the English city on 19 September 1970. Barry worked for McVitie’s biscuit factory, while Aileen was manager of a garage. Barry also found employment in two print houses in the city and attended Manchester Polytechnic.
But the call of home saw the couple return to Ireland in 1972, when Barry joined the printing company being run by his father Pat Duggan. In time, Barry took over the commercial printing concern and established a company â Carlow Advertising and Printing â on the town’s Strawhall Industrial Estate.
Barry set up the in the late 1970s. It was a weekly freesheet which was distributed throughout Co Carlow and was a successful publication and was widely read.
Barry was joined by his son Shane in running the printing company, which, over the years, published many prestigious books and journals, mainly related to Co Carlow. These included the annual journal of the former Old Carlow Society, now the Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society (CHAS).
In December 2015, Barry and Shane published , sub-titled , which charted the achievements at home and abroad of people born in Co Carlow and the descendants of Carlow emigrants. It is something of a collector’s item for any Carlovian.
Then, there was the bread and butter of the Strawhall printing concern by way of regular printing assignments down the years, from the Irish Sugar Company, long-time customers of the Carlow printing operation.
Away from his working life, Barry and Aileen enjoyed foreign holidays, the Amalfi Coast in Italy being a favourite vacation destination. In Ireland, they enjoyed holidaying in Aileen’s native Kerry.
In a heartfelt eulogy to her dad during his funeral Mass, daughter Ashling Kavanagh spoke of the deep love that had existed between Barry and Aileen for the 55 years of their married life, stating that Aileen was the love of Barry’s life.
Ashling referred to her father’s dedication to family life â to Aileen, to Shane, to herself and to his cherished grandchildren Seán, Aodh, Alex and Elliott, along with the extended Duggan family.
She also referenced her dad’s love for all things Carlow and his being an avid reader, particularly of books of historical importance. Barry had, Ashling continued, encouraged in his grandsons the value of reading and making them aware of important events in world history. He had recently outlined to the boys the tragic story of the , which had captivated them.
Ashling told the congregation that it had been difficult to persuade Barry to retire from work, but two years ago that persuasion worked and he took his leave of the printing business after a total of 52 unbroken years.
She said, for leisure, her dad loved to walk along the Barrow Track, meeting and chatting with people.
An anecdote she recalled was one day walking with her dad along the track when he spotted a series of fishing stations, complete with fishing rods. Barry went ahead and changed all the rods from their stations and positioned them in different ones. He derived great fun from causing confusion and nobody ever knew who had been at the root of it.
In conclusion, Ashling expressed the deep well of love that Aileen, Shane, herself, his siblings and extended family had for Barry.
At the beginning of Mass, other symbols of Barry’s life brought forward to the altar by his grandsons were a book, reflective of his working life, presented by Aodh; his runners, brought forward by Elliott – Barry was an avid walker; and a photograph of his grandchildren, presented by Alex, symbolising Barry’s great love of family life.
On Wednesday afternoon and evening, Barry reposed at Carpenter’s Funeral Home, Shamrock Square, concluding with prayers led by Fr Thomas O’Byrne, Adm, Carlow.
Barry’s funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr O’Byrne, who remembered first coming across the when he went studying for the priesthood in St Patrick’s College, Carlow in 1982. From then on, he had an affiliation with the paper and always tried to seek out a weekly copy wherever his priestly ministry found him in the diocese.
Readings at Mass were by Martin Duggan (brother) and Muireann Cody (niece), while the Prayers of the Faithful were recited by Maratha Jane Kehoe (niece), Jenny Rowe (niece), Justin Cody (nephew) and Colman Cody (nephew).
The bringing forward of the Offertory gifts during Mass was by Ger Kavanagh (son-in-law) and Gillian Duggan (daughter-in-law).
The lovely singing of hymns at Mass was by Louise O’Connor. One of the songs was the Charlie Landsborough number , while Muirne Hurley, a family relative, sang .
Following Mass, a cremation service took place at Carpenter’s Funeral Home, Shamrock Square.
It is anticipated that Barry’s ashes will be interred with his parents at a later date in St Mary’s Cemetery, Carlow.
Son of the late Pat and Katie Duggan (née Lavelle), Barry is mourned by his wife Aileen, son Shane (Tinryland, Carlow) and daughter Ashling (Kiltegan, Co Wicklow), brothers Brendan (Celbridge, Co Kildare), Frank (Carlow), Martin (Kilkenny) and Colman (Dublin), sisters Laurie Broughton (Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK), Ann Lynsey (Carlow) and Eithne Cody (Rosslare, Co Wexford), his four grandsons, son-in-law Ger, daughter-in-law Gillian, brother-in-law Jeremy, sisters-in-law Frankie and Jane, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
Barry was predeceased by siblings Noel (Carlow), Paddy (England), Fr Peter (Seattle, Washington) Fr Oliver (Seattle) Kate O’Neill (Carlow) Sr Maura (Dublin) and baby Martin Brendan.
The Duggan family has expressed deep appreciation to the first responders who attended Barry at his home on 9 January, as well as to the medics and gardaí who responded to the medical emergency.
May Barry’s gentle soul rest in eternal peace.
An incorrect photo was used in Mr Duggan's obituary in this week's paper, due to an admin error. We sincerely apologise for any upset caused to the families involved.
