Carlow museum curator Dermot Mulligan truly was ‘a special kind of person’

“A TRUE gentleman,” a man with “quiet, consistent excellence” and someone to have “on speed dial for local history” were just some of the words used to describe Dermot Mulligan, who was the curator of Carlow County Museum, at his funeral last week.

Dermot passed away suddenly at the age of 51 on Sunday 31 May after spending the day in his garden at home in Paulstown, Co Kilkenny.

His friend and colleague, John McDarby said it was “hard to capture a life so full, generous and quietly extraordinary, but we will try ‒ because he deserves no less.” A rose from his garden was one of the gifts laid on his coffin in the Church of the Holy Family, Askea for his funeral Mass last Friday, 5 June. A Carlow football jersey, a photo of him at his mother’s 80th birthday party and the book he co-authored on St Willibrord, were among the other gifts offered up. A man of many interests, Dermot was planning to attend the McDonagh cup final at Croke Park at the weekend, supporting the Carlow team.

The oval shape of Askea church, with light pouring in from above, gave the sense of a community coming together arm-in-arm to mourn the loss of Dermot and to support his family and friends through their grief.

Music by singer Bernard Hennessy, instrumentalists Delphine and Naomi Picovici and organist Clare Cashin filled the space with warmth.

His cousin Finbarr, in his eulogy, told the large congregation that Dermot was born in St Bridgid’s Hospital in Carlow on 8 December 1974 to parents Joan and Pat. He was the youngest of three and his older brother Fergal tragically passed away at eight years of age. The way he reacted with love to this sad event in his youth, making every day count and always wearing a “radiant smile on his face” marked him out as “a special kind of person,” said Finbarr.

His sister Mary shared memories of the two of them playing hurling and football in the field behind their house and their antics causing more than one broken window. Dermot attended Askea Boys NS and married his beloved wife Grace in 2004, They spent many happy years together alongside their loyal dog Roxy, said Finbarr. The couple loved to travel and visit new places together.

He was a wonderful son to his mother, calling in every night and making sure she had everything she needed.

Reflecting on Dermot’s love for sport and history, Finbarr said: “You would be wrecked tired trying to keep up with him. In the days before satnav, it didn't perturb Dermot too much if the journey went astray and took a little bit too long.” The Ambassador to Ireland from Luxembourg attended the ceremony in recognition of Dermot’s work on researching St Willibrord. The saint was “a chap we never heard of,” said parish priest Fr Tom Little, getting a few chuckles from the crowd.

The little-known saint was born in Northumbria in the seventh century and likely studied at Clonmelsh in County Carlow. After his ordination, he travelled to Europe and founded a monastery at Echternach in Luxembourg in 700, where he died 39 years later.

Dermot helped create the Treaty of Friendship between Carlow and Echternach, which was signed in 2019. He also studied the life of St Columbanus ‒ “another chap we never heard of,” Fr Little remarked.

“Dermot had a gift for uncovering the threads that connect Carlow to the wider world,” said John McDarby.

John spoke about how Dermot began his illustrious career as a curator after studying history and geography at Maynooth University and completing a higher diploma in heritage management at University College Cork. He then worked with Knock museum, Rothe House and Abbeyleix Heritage Company before joining Carlow Town Council as a curator in 2002.

He became a part of Carlow museum’s “identity,” said John, curating permanent and temporary exhibitions and overseeing the transfer of the museum from the town hall to its new premises. Dermot became the first person in Ireland to be appointed a designated person by the National Museum of Ireland to accept archaeological objects on their behalf.

In 2023, Dermot was delighted to hear that Carlow County Museum had achieved accreditation under the Heritage Council’s Museums Standards Programme.

The Willibrord Foundation in Echternach, Luxembourg said they will celebrate a Mass at the tomb of the saint in memory of Dermot in the coming days. ‘He built bridges between people and those bridges will endure,’ they wrote.

Coilín O’Reilly, CEO of Carlow Co Council wrote a tribute to Dermot, saying he “was a much-loved and respected public servant.” “His 24 years of tireless and passionate work leaves behind a legacy for Carlow of a county museum that is the envy of the country. He will be hugely missed by all his colleagues and friends in Carlow County Council and we are so sad for his family at this very difficult time.” Bishop Denis Nulty was among six priests who attended the Mass and spoke about how Dermot made history accessible to young and old and was “a real champion of our shared heritage.” Everyone who spoke at the funeral noted that Dermot had brought so much to the community that he lived in, doing his best to make a difference to his beloved Carlow. Hundreds of people left condolences for Dermot online, remembering him as a kind, warmhearted and intelligent person.

“We won’t say slán, we’ll just say slán go fóil,” said John.