Funeral arrangements for Liam Fitzpatrick

THE funeral arrangements have been announced for Liam Fitzpatrick, who lost his life in a road accident outside Bruff on Sunday evening.

Mr Fitzpatrick, who resided in Kilfinane, will be reposing at his mother Eileen’s residence in Knocklong this Tuesday from 3pm to 8pm.

The funeral Mass will take place at Knocklong church on Wednesday at 11.30am with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Daily Life in Bruff

Good to see Bill Mulqueen recording daily life in Bruff in a series of great photos and posting on his facebook page

Bruff V Old Crescent Friday 4th

Michael J. Noonan R.I.P

The Sean Wall Committee are sad to record the death of our friend and colleague Mr. Michael J. Noonan. Those of us privileged to work with Michael over the years saw at first hand his outstanding commitment to the service of his community.  Michael was Secretary of the main Sean Wall Committee, The Sean Wall Memorial Committee,  Sean Wall Restoration Co. Ltd and Bruff Housing Co. Ltd.  Michael was also a most enthusiastic member of the Bloomsday in Bruff Committee.

The saving and restoration of the Old RIC Barracks and the beautiful restoration of The Church of Ireland  are two fine examples of his legacy to the community in Bruff. The construction of five housing units at the rear of the barracks are also a result of his energy and commitment. His work with the Sean Wall Memorial Committee ensured that due respect was accorded  in our community, every Easter, to those who fought and died in our fight for freedom; likewise an annual ceremony at the republican plot in Grange.

Michael was one of the original committees members that established what is now the fine GAA Sports Ground in Bruff. He worked tirelessly to support  the work of Margaret Shaughnessy at Foynes Flying Boat Museum. He was a director of Ballyhoura Community Development Co. Ltd and a Director of Carebright Company, working for care in the community.

 Michael had a longstanding working relationship with his great friend of many years Mr. Dennis Barrett, Chairman of The Sean Wall Committee.   Dennis said  “ Michael was great man, with a commitment to his community that was unparalled. I have been privileged to be his friend for many years, to see at close hand his work. I shall miss his company and friendship with a great sadness”           

We who worked closely with him, were very aware of the many kind and compassionate deeds, performed quietly and privately for those who sought his help. Until relatively recently we were also in awe of his energy and determination, to see a project through, to attend all meetings of the various committees.

Donal Thurlow PRO for the Sean Wall Committee said “Michael adopted the technology of the mobile phone with enthusiasm, and was an avid texter! He would ask you to see to a certain task. He would phone the next day.....to see how you were...   and   to check that you had completed the task. If you had not he would follow up your progress with a relentess energy; you soon learnt that it was easier to see to Michael’s tasks promptly! It has been a daunting task to cover for Michael in recent months as Acting Secretary. I have become more aware than ever of the amount of work he got through. Michael was a compassionate man of great integrity; we were privileged to have him as a colleague and as a friend."

Donal Thurlow

PRO Sean Wall Committee

Kennedy family visit to Bruff

As Ireland said farewell to the Obamas, a Co Limerick town was yesterday making final preparations to welcome the Kennedy clan.

JFK’s daughter, Caroline Kennedy, along with her husband Edwin Schlossberg, their three children, and other members of the extended family will visit Bruff on Friday.

The old courthouse in the town will be renamed after John F Kennedy’s great grandfather, Thomas Fitzgerald, who emigrated to the US from Bruff in 1852.

He took with him the family Bible, which was used for the swearing into office of JFK in 1961.

The visitors will see the site of the old Fitzgerald homestead on the Palatine Road.

The visit has been organised by Bruff Heritage Group. Spokesman Paul Dennehy said: "During Friday’s visit, we will dedicate and rename the former district court building the ‘Thomas Fitzgerald Centre’ to acknowledge the strong links between Bruff and the Fitzgerald Kennedy family. With this visit, every generation of the Fitzgerald Kennedys will have come to Bruff."

The centre will be used partly as a training site by Ballyhoura Development and will also be used as both an exhibition and heritage amenity.

Mr Dennehy said: "Caroline Kennedy is of course a lawyer and will be very interested to know that an important reform in the history of the Irish legal system was introduced as a direct result of an occurrence in the old Bruff courthouse in 1829 — the right of the Irish citizen to have legal representation was established and the practices of local magistrates in disallowing this was forbidden.

"So it is especially significant that she will be present in Bruff to dedicate this historical building to her ancestor."

After arriving in Amer-ica, Thomas Fitzgerald married Rosanna Cox from Cavan and one of their children, John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, went on to become mayor of Boston, serving a number of terms in office.

Honey Fitz married his second cousin, Mary Hannon, whose family also came from Bruff. Their daughter was Rose Fitzgerald, born Jul 22, 1890.

Rose married Joe Kennedy in 1914 and one of their children was John F Kennedy — the 35th president of the US.

In 1908, John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald and Rose, then aged 18, visited Bruff and stayed in Shaughnessy’s Hotel on Main St for three days. During their stay, they visited the small farmhouse at The Pike, Bruff, where the Fitzgerald clan originated.

All that remains now is a model of the farmhouse, which was constructed in the early 1960s by a local artist who married into descendants of the Fitzgerald family. 

Caroline Kennedy to visit Bruff

To find out why visit 
www.bruffhistory.blogspot.com