by Peg Prendeville

There’s a saying when a person of knowledge dies “Another wonderful library closed today”. Well, a most wonderful library was closed in Glin last week when Eily Hogan passed from this life. She was a wealth of knowledge when it came to ancestry and family history. Indeed, while I worked in Glin library I often sent people, who were enquiring about their Irish roots, up to her. She would be only delighted and would welcome them like lost relatives of her own. I asked her one time how did she know all the families. “Amn’t I here all my life” she said “why wouldn’t I know them?” I will remember her for her big smile and hurried walk. Since Jim got his stroke she told me she prayed for him every single day and I know she would go into her room every day for a quiet time to pray for all she knew. She will continue to do that in Heaven now I am very sure. She took great pride out of a little verse I wrote for her on her 90^th birthday which was in the midst of Covid when she could have no callers.

“There’s a woman down in Glin

Eily Hogan is her name

She’s always full of humour

And is never one to blame.

She’s a master in local knowledge

And knows each kith and kin

If you need some local history

Call to Eily down in Glin.

Today she’s 90 years of age

Though you would never guess

A smile always on her face

She would say she has been blessed.

Having been widowed in recent years

She has no regrets at all

Cos she married the man that she loved best

And together they had a ball.

I send her my best wishes

In this strange Covid time

I hope she always keeps her smile

And enjoys this little rhyme.”

She will be dearly missed by her family who adored her but they are left with wonderful memories of a great little woman. Sympathies to Paddy, John, Eileen, Mary, Marcella, Anne and Edel and all their extended families. We will all miss her.

Shocking news of a murder in nearby Knockanure on Sunday night. The world is surely very disturbed. We all need to slow down and think before we act. Respect for human life seems to be missing at the moment.

The Abha Bhán Players are officially on holidays since their final performance in the Glorach last Saturday night. But we will return in the Fall of the year, all going well.

Happy birthday to my oldest Grand-daughter, Clodagh,  who turned into a teenager on Monday last. The fun is only starting!