Tributes paid to former Examiner printer

Tributes have been pouring in for former Westmeath Examiner printer, Mick Kenny from Walterstown, Dalystown, Mullingar, whose sudden death last week sent shock waves throughout the wider community.

Shortly after the devastating news of Mick’s untimely death, friends and colleagues were contacting the Examiner, eager to pay tribute to “a great character and a gentleman rolled into one”.

Mick was someone who exuded warmth and friendliness and will be best remembered for the beaming smile and friendly banter that made him a joy to be around.

During the late 1970s and into the ’80s Mick played with the Rangers band and continued to play the guitar regularly at Kilbeggan Men’s Shed and other venues right up to his death.

In fact, shortly before he died, he invested in a new guitar, according to his friend, Marius Gavin. Mick loved music and was a great fan of Robert Mizzell and had bought tickets for a Three Amigos concert after Christmas, Marius said.

Before joining the Examiner staff, Mick worked with Cappincur Joinery and after he worked with his brother, Matt, selling forklifts, at St Mary’s Hospital, Mullingar, Writech, Mullingar, Bradley Coaches and most recently with Horseleap Tidy Village.

Bernie Fitzmaurice, Community Employment supervisor for Kilbeggan Community Group, came to know him when he started working with the Horseleap Tidy Village group two and a half years ago.

Bernie remembers that when she and TP O’Gorman, chairman of Kilbeggan Men’s Shed, first interviewed Mick, they knew he would be great for Horseleap and for the Men’s Shed. He showed us a picture of his lovely house with its beautiful hanging baskets done up to the nines and she knew he would be perfect for the job, she recalls.

She said Mick was a diligent worker and did great work in Horseleap. No job was too big for him and anything you asked him to do, he did with a smile. During his time in Horseleap, he got to know a lot of people and became a part of a community to which he gave so much, she said.

Mick became the life and soul of the Kilbeggan Men’s Shed too, bringing along his guitar and playing for them. Music and his dogs were his loves. Mick had two dogs and even had an app on his phone that enabled him to talk to the dogs when he was at work, Bernie said.

At the Men’s Shed, Mick was reunited with his old work colleague, Johnny Hannify, who died last April. Johnny was also a printer with the Westmeath Examiner during Mick’s time there.

Bernie said that when Johnny was ill, Mick stayed in touch with him to the last. When he wasn’t working, Mick was regularly taking family and friends to medical appointments, often to Dublin hospitals, she added.

Mick’s neighbour, Orla Gallagher, was eager to share how good Mick was to her late father, Sean Gallagher, who passed away eight months ago. The two were great friends as they shared a love of music.

Sean played many instruments including the bazooka, banjo and fiddle, and their love of music united them. In later years, Sean suffered from dementia, but he never forgot who Mick was as he collected him and took him to the Kilbeggan Men’s Shed or to a music session. The two of them are probably “playing serious music up in heaven”, Orla mused.

Orla described Mick as a man who was always positive about everything and always had a joke to share. She said that the whole community was devastated by the news of his sudden and untimely death and his passing has made the world a duller place.

TP O’Gorman said that Mick Kenny was both “a gregarious fella and very quiet at the same time” and that he will be sorely missed in the Men’s Shed. He remembered suggesting to Mick that he join the Men’s Shed and then telling shed member, the late Johnny Hannify, that he had a new member starting.

“I didn’t realise they knew each other and when they met, it was like two boys being reunited,” he said.

TP described Mick Kenny was “a lovely man”, selfless, always willing to oblige and never looking for credit or recompense.

Mick died at his home on October 27. He was predeceased by his parents Matt and Mary, brothers Billy, Seamus and Donal, and sister Mary. He will be sadly missed by his heartbroken family, sisters Rosie Doyle, Betty Duffy, Madelene Baudin and Agnes Sweeney, brother Matt, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

His removal was from John Healy’s Chapel of Rest, Rochfortbridge, to the Church of Immaculate Conception, Rochfortbridge for funeral Mass followed by cremation in Lakelands crematorium, Cavan. Mick’s family asked that donations in lieu of flowers, if desired, be made to Dogs Trust Ireland.