The late Oliver Fay
The death has taken place of the noted Westmeath businessman, Oliver Fay of Ardivaghan, Walshestown South, Mullingar, who was founder of a building firm associated with several landmark developments both in Westmeath and across the wider midlands.
Mr Fay died on Sunday last, October 1 at the Mater Hospital in Dublin surrounded by his loving family. He was 82.
A native of Castletown Finea, Mr Fay actually started his working life in the field of education. He qualified as a teacher of History, Latin, Geography and English, and worked first at Kilnacrott Abbey before taking up a position at St Mary’s CBS in Mullingar (now Coláiste Mhuire).
While at St Mary’s, Mr Fay began taking on construction projects, and when, in 1977, he decided to make the move full-time into construction, one of his first major contracts secured by Oliver Fay & Co was for construction of the gym at St Mary’s.
Oliver and his wife Mary worked hard on building up the firm, and among the projects of note undertaken by the company were the apartment blocks at Prospect in Mullingar, various schools and churches around Kildare, Meath and Offaly and the first Carroll Meats plant in Tullamore.
In his leisure time, Mr Fay was a keen sports fan, but with a particular “grá” for the GAA, and he was rarely happier than when sitting in the stand at Cusack Park or Croke Park. In his youth, he was a player of some talent, lining out with Castletown Finea, and going on to play with Westmeath in the late 1960s.
His loyalty remained with his home club.
In later years, unlike many retired GAA players, he resisted the temptation of the golf course, joking that he was too busy for that game.
Busy indeed he was – even after his retirement in 2006 - for he was deeply involved in the Rotary Club, serving two terms as president, and being one of those responsible each year for erection of the Rotary Christmas tree at Dominick Place.
He was keen on travel, and was a member of the Cathedral choir for a spell n the 1980s, but above all, he was deeply devoted to his family, and with Mary, raised seven children, placing great emphasis on their education. He also took great delight in his 21 grandchildren.
Mr Fay is survived by his wife, Mary; his children Nicola Isdell, Multyfarnham, Janine Cummins, Dungarvan, Louise Fay, Sydney, Australia, Andrew Fay, Mullingar, Jennifer Blair, Canberra, Australia, Oliver Fay, Naas and Nicholas Fay, Delgany; by his sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, Conor Isdell, Donagh Cummins, Bertrand Raoult, Jenny O’Driscoll, Andy Blair, Fiona Dooley and Louise Campbell; his grandchildren; his sisters Maura Fay, Wexford and Angela Brady, Cavan, as well as by his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and wide circle of friends.
Mr Fay’s remains are reposing at Shaw’s Funeral Home, Bishopsgate St, Mullingar tomorrow Wednesday October 4, from 4pm, concluding with prayers at 7pm.
The funeral Mass is on Thursday at 1pm in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, followed by burial in Walshestown Cemetery. Oliver's Mass can be seen on the live webcam at www.mullingarparish.ie.