“WHEN an old man dies, a library burns”. This saying was certainly true with the death on March, 21, 2002, at 12.30am, of Michael Falvey.
Born on April 3, 1924, Michael spent most of his life working on the family farm in Kilkee. The Falveys ran a dairy, delivering milk to the people of Kilkee and surrounding areas.
He left Kilkee Lower for a short period to take up employment in the midlands with Bórd na Móna where Michael kept payment records for the workers. But he soon returned to his native place.
In full health, Michael was a regular traveller by bus and ship to his brother Tommy and family in Birmingham. A proud father, he looked forward to visits and phone calls from his family at home and abroad and loved to follow their life journey and careers.
A keen genealogist and founder member of Clare Roots Society, Michael had an exceptional brain for tracing families from Kilmaley to Kilmihil and back to Kilkee.
He had a great interest in the Library services in particular Kilkee and Ennis Libraries. When he had good health he was a regular visitor to the local Studies Centre where he enjoyed trawling through the old newspapers.
He was particularly interested in finding old obituaries, where he appreciated a well set out family lineage.
When Ennis won the Information Age Town award in 1997, it gave Michael the opportunity, at the age of 73, to learn to use a computer. He took to it like a duck to water and it opened up a new world of research and record keeping for him.
Michael also had a great love for cinema. He loved the history attached to different films and actors. In particular, he regularly recalled the story line attached to the 1973 film Lost Horizon, returning to Shangri-La.
Coming to live in Ennis about 28 years ago, Michael settled at 8, Military Barracks, Kilrush Road, where he became a member of a close-knit caring community, where neighbours looked out for each other.
His time there was extended thanks to the support of Clarecare’s Home Care team whose regular visits he looked forward to. He loved company and looked forward to chats on the street or during visits from his friends to his home.
Spending the last six months of his life’s journey in the loving care of the staff of the Alder Unit of St Joseph’s Hospital in Ennis, Michael finally closed his eyes and set off on his journey to Shangri-La on March 21.
Michael is survived by his son Peter, daughters Mary (Casey), Bridget (Mellon), and Helen (Ebenezer), grandchildren, daughter-in-law, sons-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. He was pre-deceased by his wife Lena (2011) brother Tommy (2022), granddaughter Róisín, and son-in-law Benny.
May they rest in peace.
By Larry Brennan