Scairbh

Na

gCaorach

EMYVALE

Dympna McMahon R.I.P.

It is with regret that we report the death of Dympna McMahon, Emy, Emyvale. Originally from Dublin Street, Monaghan, Dympna, married Pat Owen McMahon in 1942 and moved to the Emyvale area. They lived in various locations including Derrygasson, Griggy and Main Street. Emyvale, before settling on the family farm at Emy. They reared a family of three – two boys – Leo and Desmond and one daughter – Myrtle.

Pat Owen worked the farm and Dympna was the typical farmer’s wife – looking after the family and the house and helping out on the farm, when needed. Then in the mid-fifties the Inland Fisheries Board took over the maintenance of Emy Lake. They withdrew as many coarse fish as possible from the lake and relocated them to other fisheries. They then stocked Emy with natural trout and developed it into a fine angling lake. They placed four boats on the lake for anglers to rent out and Pat Owen was appointed Water Balliff and he also had charge of the boats.

It was a labour of love for Pat Owen but Dympna also became very involved and treasured the lake for its fishing and the wild-life around it. During the days, while Pat Owen was out working on the farm, Dympna became his ‘secretary’ and was always available to deal with anglers as they arrived, take bookings, keep the diary, answer the phone and keep an eye on things generally. Naturally anglers would ask – ‘How is the lake fishing’ and very soon Dympna became an expert on trout, water conditions, insect life and the weather.

However in the mid-60’s Dympna developed pains, which were eventually diagnosed as severe arthritis. This increased in severity as the years passed and reduced her mobility and left her in constant discomfort. Indeed at times she described the pain as ‘brutal’. However she still smiled and changed the topic to something else and usually to the other person. She was more confined to the house then and her movements restricted. She continued to do the housework and ‘secretary’ as normal and always had a warm greeting for every caller. All the while she was attending medical people and having to travel to Dublin on a regular basis for treatment. She had joint replacements of hip and one knee, which eased the pain somewhat, but then the travelling was taking so much out of her that she decided that she had to stop. She then put herself in the hands of Doctor Pelley in Monaghan General Hospital and Dr. Martin Watters in Emyvale, and she had great praise for both of them.

Reading and Television became her constant companions and when her sight began to fail she underwent surgery and laser treatment in Belfast, which was sufficient to enable her to continue watching her favourite programmes on TV. Through her reading and TV she was a very knowledgeable person and could discuss any topic. She followed world news, as well as local, and could express her opinion with passion. She loved visitors and there were many from all over Ireland, who got to know her during the years. She remembered faces and names with ease and, though in severe pain, she would still greet people with a cheerful smile. When she became almost totally immobile she would sit in her chair at the window, looking out over her beloved lake, watching the swans and wild birds and waiting to see a big trout rise on a summer evening. She put her trust in prayer and was always delighted to see the priest calling. It was her deep faith, which helped her accept the pain and her condition with such fortitude and courage.

She and Pat Owen celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary in 2002 but Pat Owen died after a short illness in 2003. By then, her eldest son, Leo, himself a trained nurse, had come home from England to act as carer and he provided her with daily loving attention till her passing on April 30th. Her remains were in her home until Sunday, May 3rd. During that time there was a constant coming and going of callers to express their sympathy and they came from far and near. Again there was a huge crowd at her funeral Mass in St. Patrick’s Church, Corracrin, and she was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery afterwards.

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We offer our deepest sympathy to Leo (Emy); to Desmond (Emy); to Myrtle (Australia); to her relatives and wide circle of friends. May God give her eternal rest.