RIP: Longford parish mourns death of their 'encyclopaedia of community, cars and showbands'

Born a stone throw away from the River Shannon on the Main Street, Lanesboro and for 80 years never having strayed but only a short number of yards away from his birth place, the late Michael Connaughton, Knock, was a man with a tremendous knowledge to his home town and it was with great sadness we learned of his death on Wednesday, November 26 last. 

Mickey as he was most commonly known was predeceased by his son Murry, his parents Mike and Bernadette, his sister Mary, his brothers Noel (Dolie), Deckie and Lorcie. The Connaughton family, where Mickey grew up, lived near the bottom of Main Street where Ping’s Oriental Takeaway is now situated.

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Born a twin, with his brother Seanie in 1945, he was at the right time and age to see the beginning of the industrial revolution in Lanesboro and the arrival of all the families and their young families. His memory was always great and he could recall many of the events and occurrences from the growing of the community and when chatting with him he was always delighted to be recalling details of all the events over the years in Lanesboro.

He grew up with a great fascination of cars and engines and from a very young age he spent a number of years with Tom McNally’s garage. He loved the revolution of motor vehicles as it offered great challenges to his inquiring mind as to how to repair and reconstruct engines. Right up to the very end he spent many long days and nights repairing cars and doing up vintage cars to take to rallies.

From the outset of Marty McNally’s carnivals he took a great interest in the showband scene and he travelled far and wide following bands. He built up a great knowledge and archive of memorabilia from those times, if there was ever a question asked about the glory days of the Showbands he invariably had all the answer such was his store of Showband wisdom. 

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Mickey went on to work in the ESB power station and he was a valuable member of the team until his retirement following 40 years of service. He had a fabulous love of his home town and especially the Main Street and that was clear to be seen whenever he was walking home after a night out, usually with locals of his vintage, discussing the history of the town and area he would stop at the church and take a photograph of the Main Street and post it on social media with a comment. Gone is our encyclopaedia of community, cars, Showbands and we are all the poorer for that.

Mickey’s remains reposed at the home of his daughter Sinead and son in law Barry Hogan on Thursday. On Friday, November 28 he was removed to St Mary’s Church for Mass of the Resurrection and burial took place afterwards to Clonbonny Cemetery.

To his wife Mamie, daughters Tracy and Sinéad, his twin brother Seanie and brother Josie, sons-in-law Donal Hogan and Barry Hogan, adored grandchildren Ella, Lily, Daniel, Rían, Faye, Michael and Seán, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and many good friends, we extend our deepest sympathy.

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