Longford mourns: The late Mark Fallon valued family greatly and lived a full life

Great sadness greeted the news on Saturday, August 19 of the death of Mark Fallon of Caramana on the outskirts of Longford town after a ferocious battle with cancer.

It has been an exceptionally difficult three years for the family as his death was predeceased by his parents, Pat and Celine.

Mark attended Stonepark NS and later the community college in Lanesboro, where he first met his future wife, Catherine Dunne.

He was a very hard and committed worker and launched a very successful electrical contracting business, Shannonside Electric, with major contracts in the UK and all over Ireland.

He stepped back from the business a few years ago to take over the running of the family’s farm and turf cutting business.

Mark greatly valued family and was deeply appreciative of the love and support of Catherine and his two daughters, Tara and Nicole. He valued every last minute with them and saying his goodbyes to these three women was the hardest part of his short life.

They came from near and far to pay their respects to Mark and his family last week. There was a strong contingency from Clondra as McPartland’s was a favourite spot for him and his late parents. He himself reckoned he was the king of the pool table there.

Despite his successes in the electrical world, Mark was happiest driving a digger or tractor and as he battled illness in recent years, family and neighbours listened out for the sound of that tractor and knew it was a good day for Mark.

Mark lived a full life, was true to his beliefs and values and never shied away from helping a friend in need and this was reflected in the large crowds who came to pay their final respects.

The late Mark Fallon passed away on Saturday, August 19. He will be sadly missed by his loving wife, Catherine; darling daughters, Nicole and Tara; sisters Regina and Deirdre, brothers-in-law Maurice, Steven, Declan and Padraig, sisters-in-law Deidre and Dolores, mother-in-law Maura Dunne, nieces Kaitlyn, Lauren and Caoimhe, nephews Evan, Daire and Diarmaid, cousins, uncles and aunts, especially Teresa and Eugene, relatives and many good friends and neighbours.

His remains reposed at Kelly’s Funeral Home on Monday, August 21 before being brought to St Mary’s Church, Lanesboro for requiem mass on Tuesday and burial afterwards in Clonbonny cemetery.