The death has occurred on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 of Seámus MAXWELL of Bearna Lodge, Oldtown, Templemore, Tipperary. Requiem Mass took place at the Church of the Sacred Heart Templemore on Saturday 17th at, and he was interred in Killea Cemetery afterwards.
Seamus was formerly an assistant bank manager in the Bank of Ireland in the 80s, an active member of the community, including Millstreet Tidy Towns Association and the Horse Show Committee, and was President of Millstreet Golf Society in 1984.
Seamus Maxwell died peacefully at his home in Bearna Lodge, Oldtown, Templemore of July 14th 2010 following a short illness. The eldest of a family of six, Seamus was born in Glenaguile, Toomevara to his parents John Maxwell (RIP) and Brigid Greed. After primary school at Gurtagarry, he attended St. Flannan’s College, Ennis. There he honed his hurling skills, achieving a Harty Cup and an All-Ireland Colleges medals in 1958- 1959. He was subsequently a member of the Toomevara team which won the County Final in 1960.
Seamus joined the National Bank ( later Bank of Ireland) after secondary school and so began his career in banking, spanning over thirty years. His work brought him to various branches in Munster and Leinster. In 1968 he married Frances O’Brien and their first home was at Bearna Lodge, Templemore. In 1976 Seamus transferred to the branch in Millstreet, Co. Cork which became a home from home. He was actively involved in Millstreet Tidy Towns Association and the Horse Show Committee and pursued his interests within the golfing, horse racing and greyhound racing fraternities. It was in Millstreet that his three children, Félim, Ciara and Bríd, were educated, while Frances furthered her teaching career at Analeentha National School, Mourneabbey, Mallow.
Notwithstanding, his contented life in Millstreet, Templemore and Toomevara remained a constant draw and it was to Templemore that Seamus returned on his retirement from the bank in 1991. Here he settled into easy life of a “gentleman farmer”, managing a mixed herd of cattle and sheep.
Seamus was never happier than when digging, building, foddering or performing physical labour of one form or another. He was a hard worker and believed that if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well. He was a “tidy” farmer and was constantly improving his environs, planting trees, sowing vegetables and maintaining.
Seamus had an endearing personality. He was relaxed and level-headed and had an innate appreciation of life in its uncomplicated simplicity. Some favourite sayings of his included:
“Hit the nail on the head- every time!” and “Lift up your feet, throw them out and they’ll fall down themselves.”
He brought joy, happiness and cheerfulness into the lives of many with his consistently uplifting, welcoming and spirited disposition. He had a roguish sense of humour and at social gatherings enjoyed easy conversation with all.
Topics of choice included; the weather, politics, mart prices and Tipperary’s chances in the League or Championship. Maintaining a strong sense of place he often argued about which side was the front side of the Devil’s Bit and joked about the superior qualities of the Toomevara Greyhounds!
Seamus had a keen sense of civic duty and displayed the essence of neighbourliness. Family was of utmost importance and throughout his life he preformed the roles of faithful son and brother with hearty exuberance. As a husband and father he was committed and ever supportive. Seamus will be greatly missed by his family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. In our mourning of his untimely passing we celebrate his life fulfiled. He would surely agree with the following sentiment, (and in his case it was certainly true)-
“Let us endeavour so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry” (Mark Twain)
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
from the Tipperary Star
August 12th 2010