Longford and Lanesboro mourns very well respected parish man and a wonderful neighbour
Late Michael (Mike) Hanley, Cashelbeg, Lanesboro, Longford
A man of the community, a man very proud of his parish and a feature at so many parish events, the death of Michael Hanley, Cashelbeg, on Saturday, October 26 at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar was deeply felt.
Mike, as he was most commonly known was the middle child in the family of 11. He was predeceased by his father Edward, mother Mary, his brothers Gerry and Ned and his sisters Mary and Margaret.
Mike was a widely recognised and renowned as a very well respected parish man and a wonderful neighbour. In recent years he was in failing health and was cared for in the most astonishing way by his wife Eileen.
From his days of playing football with Rathcline, to working with Bord na Mona, to his market gardening skills, his farming and rearing of turkeys for Christmas Mike’s generosity of soul was legendary.
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Mike was a tremendous sports supporter but he was a most loyal supporter of Rathcline who along with his soul mate Eileen, who never left his side, seldom if ever missed a game. He was a lifetime pioneer and a man of great faith who had a wonderful outlook on life; his personality was always full of positivity and basked in the success of the many he encouraged.
Living next to the turlough, Mike had a wonderful take on the history of the turlough as well as the parish and his knowledge and love of the many birds, some rare, that visited over the winter was second to none.
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Mike’s personality was warm, friendly, welcoming and his kindness knew no bounds. If you were a visitor to the house he would never let you go without some eggs or vegetables from his garden.
Mike was known as the man with the beret and that image of him and his warm smile will never disappear from our hearts and minds. The attendance at his reposing at his son Michael’s residence and again at his Funeral Mass bore ample testimony to the esteem in which he was held.
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Mike reposed in his native Cashelbeg on Monday, October 28 until the removal of his remains to St Mary’s Church, Lanesboro for his Funeral Mass on Tuesday. Following Mass Mike was laid to rest in Rathcline cemetery.
Mike is survived by his wife Eileen, son Michael and daughters Siobhan and Marie, his adored grandchildren Ryan, Ellie Mai, Kevin, Conor, Emma, Shay, Darragh, Jamie and Brodie, his brothers Johnny, Jimmy & Paddy, his sisters Frances, Kathy & Annie, daughter in law Una, sons in law Brian & Shawn, nieces, nephews, sisters in law, brothers in law, wonderful friends, neighbours and relatives, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.