Obituary of an Old Friend!!??

This short epitath was email to me by my brother!

Frank Whelan died yesterday. He was a long suffering friend of the Daly family. We had good times. He had a dog named Clio, she died before Frank. He was a member of the FCA. His Dads name was Dixie (coined by the Daly’s). Throughout the 80’s he kept the EC meat and butter mountain in tact for the homeless. He also kept the Daly family in tact. There was also Mary Roses cakes. There was fyfes bananas. Jack said on the phone to me yesterday it: ‘was the drink that killed him’ but Frank never drank!!! Mary rose Daly was a scared of her life of Frank like as she is as scared of bow wows, he used try and hug her, she not being one for affection ‘get away from me!!!’ she would screech.
Frank made me a Russian hat from Fur. It was quite styley. He worked extensively for the Saint Vincent De Paul Hostel. I met many drunks throughout my time there. There was Davey the drunk, harmless feen who used beg outside the Franciscan church, he used call it ‘benediction’. Mick the drunk, who had an ulcer on his leg, he would show you it when he got really drunk. Francy, edgy type nervey character and lots more.
Frank travelled extensively throughout his life during the 80’s when people could not afford travel (China, Russia etc), to places people could only dream of. Jack said: ‘Him self and Dixie are up at the gates o heaven now letting people in and out’. I said: ‘Jack you’re such a mocker, I bet you never thought you’d outlive him?’
Franks requiem mass was attended by 8 priests and the Bishop. And as jack said: ‘the bishop was there both nights, ‘it was unbelievable’. What is the moral of the story ‘Never drink, never smoke, never sneer, never curse and jack still outlives yeah’
Farnk’s sayings: ‘Glory, its like Christmas’. ‘One flew over the cookoos nest’, ‘he was stiff today but he’s stiffer now’.
May he rest in Peace, Amen.

Editors Comment

If I think about it, he was probably one of those people who defined what was to become of me in my early years!!! He worked in the SVP hostel as caretaker for a few years when it first opened. He had a brother who worked in O'Donovans butchers in Princess Street.... they were looking for a dogsbody/slave to work after school and on the weekends....along came Frank with the offer to yours truly and I slotted into the role like a glove...I must have been only 12 or 13 years old!!! You must remember that this was in the year 1985/86...very different times!! These decisions can sometimes shape the rest of your life. The characters and way of life that a younfella of my age would probably never have got to know or experience put me on a different level...a more mature level at a very young age!! Sometimes I wonder to myself was that really a good thing? Yours in sawdust.... Paudie