RIP: Granard saddened by death of brother and sister who died within days of one another

A great sadness descended on Granard town and its hinterland with the passing of Johnny Macken and his sister Doris Looker, who died within days of one another in December last.

Late Johnny Macken

Johnny's passing was on December 12 after a short stay in Cavan General Hospital. 

Born and reared, in the shadow of the Motte on Main Street, Johnny was a true son of the ancient town ‒ his full life lived among its people and deeply woven into the fabric of their community. 

With his father, Jimmy, being a driving force in the re-forming of the St Mary's GAA Club, it was only to be expected that Johnny and his three brothers would don the famous blue and white jersey. 

Johnny was a member of the Minor Championship-winning team of 1955 and the Junior Championship-winning team of '58. In both successes Johnny lined out in defence ‒  right half-back in '55 and right corner back in '58. Among his team mates he became affectionately known as Lavery – after George Lavery, the great defender on the All-Ireland-winning Down team of 1960 and '61. 

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With his strong work ethic, Johnny soon found other callings and did not feature on any St Mary's teams from 1964 onwards. 

A significant year in Johnny's life was 1967, when he married Cornafean woman Mona Brady. That same year, the couple entered the business world by opening a shop and petrol filling station at the lower end of the town. The shop was just a small booth at first, but thanks to their trademark hard work, the business quickly expanded and prospered, becoming a well known re-fuelling point for the increased Northern motorists heading south.

From across the road, successive generations of Cnoc Mhuire staff and students found Mackens ''a home from home'' and a safe haven from the school routine. 

Behind that success lay something special ‒ Johnny's genuine warmth. Through his friendliness, easy manner, and strong sense of propriety (there was only one way to do things ‒ the right way), Johnny built lasting connections with his customers and his community.

In 1986, Johnny and Mona further cementing their place at the heart of the town's social life when they opened the Boomerang Public House on Main Street. 

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Prior to its opening the premises was refurbished and, as with the shop, everything was done to the highest standard. The front bar became a GAA archive, adorned with photos of the various St Mary's teams and players from down the years. Many a good  night was enjoyed there. When a sing-song started, Johnny's part piece never changed – his rendition of the 1950s favourite Remona. Sung softly, eyes closed, he captured his audience; and because it reminded everyone of his beloved Mona, it invariably drew a cheerful call of  ''Good on ye, Johnny''. 

But life was not without its trials. The passing of his beloved son, Jimmy, was a huge blow. We can only surmise that Johnny's strong Christian beliefs helped him and his family to bear their cross. 

With one of our favourite sons now gone to join that great St Mary's contingent in the land of true glory, we are left a lesser and saddened community. 

Johnny is survived by his wife Mona, and children John and Fiona. 

Late Doris Looker

Johnny's younger sister Doris Looker, passed to her eternal reward on December 2. 

Doris returned to Granard after a number of years pursuing her career in Dublin and London. With her husband Ken and family they served the town with two separate retail businesses in prime locations.

Doris had an elegance and gentleness about her which endeared her to the local townspeople, her loyal customers and colleagues in Longford County Council where she worked for some years. The tributes paid to her, capture her gracious personality and cheerful disposition. Doris was an active and highly regarded member of the Granard Guild of the ICA where at one stage she served as President.

In recent years Doris' home was Portiuncula Nursing Home, Multyfarnham, where she died peacefully surrounded by her family. 

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She is survived by her husband Ken, and children Andrew, David, Paul and Elizabeth.

To both Johnny's and Doris' families and to their brothers Eddie and Benny we extend our sincere condolences.

Ní imithe uainn atá siad, ach imithe romhainn.

Appreciation by S.F & M.B. 

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