Tributes to a popular Buttermarket resident

THE death has taken place of Mrs Frances Browne, Buttermarket Street, Ennis. She was wife of the late Kevin J Browne, a well-known journalist in the Mid-West until his death in 1986.

A native of  Cork, Mrs Browne was the former Frances O’Sullivan, who was a daughter of a garda superintendent. She was 85 years.

In her earlier years, she was a trainee nurse in Moorefield Eye Hospital, London, one of the leading eye hospitals in the world. Some years later, she changed her career to become an Aer Lingus ground hostess in Shannon. There she met many personalities of national and international fame. In 1955, Kevin Browne was appointed the Limerick correspondent for The Irish Press and other newspapers and it was probably on one of his assignments in Shannon that he met his wife to be. They got married in 1954.

Two years later, they went to live in the Buttermarket when Kevin became  a freelance journalist and correspondent for daily newspapers in Ireland and England. Over the years, Frances was a big help to Kevin in his career spending much of her spare time phoning copy to the various newspapers. Kevin later joined the newsroom staff of The Clare Champion in 1970 and concluded his career with the newspaper nine years later after taking early retirement due to ill health. He died on June 25, 1986, at the age of 65 years.

Outside of her involvement with the newspapers, Frances also worked for a number of years in the Old Ground Hotel in the accounts section. She also worked in Brian Hogan’s Restaurant on O’Connell Street.

A very quite and unassuming person, Frances was a great favourite among the familes living in the Buttermarket area. Throughout her life, she also had a great liking for craft work and during the summer, looked forward to the family holidays in Fanore.

She was a patient in St Joseph’s Hospital, Ennis for a number of years before going to Páirc na Coille Nursing Home, Showgrounds Road.

Her death took place there on Wednesday, August 22. Reposing was at Daly’s Mortuary Chapel, Ennis on Friday before removal to Ennis Cathedral for funeral mass on Saturday. The funeral took place afterwards to Drumcliffe Cemetery.

The life and times of Frances, her many fine qualities and contribution to the family and home were referred to by Fr Tom Hogan, administrator, who was chief celebrant of  the funeral mass.
Prayers at the graveside were recited by Fr Tom O’Gorman, Ennis.

Frances is survived by her family, Tom, Kate and Anthony; grandchildren; brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
TM