Seamus spent four decades working in The Nationalist
The late Seamus Reddy
THE communities of Graiguecullen and Carlow town are united this week in mourning the passing of Seamus Reddy, Sleaty Street, Graiguecullen, who died peacefully on Friday 31 July at Carlow District Hospital, in the presence of his loving family.
His death followed a lengthy illness and occurred on the eve of his birthday – Seamus was born on August 1,1942.
Seamus spent all his working life with at 42 Tullow Street.
He started out at the age of 16 as an apprentice compositor with the newspaper. He was to spend a total of unbroken 46 years as a vital and loyal employee who enjoyed the popularity and respect of all staff sections within the newspaper.
Seamus’s father, Pa Reddy, worked with ***The Nationalist*** for 50 years - so the printer’s ink was in the Reddy blood!
Seamus qualified as a compositor and was also a typesetter, rising to the position of production manager in the printing works.
He was an ideal fit for that responsible role. Seamus was always in good humour, wore a winning smile and, no matter what problems arose in the course of the working day, his disarming and friendly personality always won out.
Apart from his working life, Seamus was a dedicated family man and his death is an inestimable loss to his devoted wife, the former Margaret Dowling and their children, Ann and PJ.
He was also deeply devoted to the caring of Margaret’s late sister, Lily Dowling.
Seamus married Margaret Dowling in March 1967 in the Church of the Holy Cross, Killleshin and they lived happily at 191 Sleaty Street for 55 years.
Having reposed in Carpenter’s Funeral Home, Graiguecullen on Sunday, the remains were removed to St Clare’s Church, Graiguecullen yesterday morning (Monday) when Fr John Dunphy, PP Graiguecullen-Killeshin, celebrated what he described as a Mass of Thanksgiving for a man who led a life “of loving, service and faith.” In a eulogy during Mass, Fr John outlined the organisations and sporting bodies with which Seamus Reddy was associated.
He was a founder member of Carlow Credit Union in 1963, secretary of the local Barrow Rovers Soccer Club, was a fine pitch and putt player in the St Fiacc’s club in Graiguecullen, was associated with the FCA while he greatly enjoyed dancing and loved a game of cards.
Seamus was also an avid Manchester United football follower.
At the end of Mass, Vanessa Reddy (granddaughter) paid tribute to “the beautiful life of an extraordinary man.” She outlined the devotion Seamus had to family life, his love of working in the newspaper, his kind and caring nature, quick humour and infectious laugh.
Vanessa spoke of her grandfather’s positive outlook on life, quoting a saying of his – ‘every day may not be good but there is good in every day.’ Seamus is deeply mourned by his wife Margaret, daughter Ann Tormey (Rathoath, Co Meath) and son P J (Spindlewood, Graiguecullen), brothers Noel, Tommy and Johnny, sisters Mary and Frances – he was predeceased by brother Paddy and sister Kathleen.
He was cherished granddad to Vanessa, James, Rachel, Niamh and Aoife and is also mourned by sons-in-law David, daughter-in-law Colette, by brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, former work colleagues in and his many friends.
