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Tribute to John Carthy
You will be saddened to hear that the Clan's good supporter and friend, John Carthy, also passed away last week. John always gave us a lot of his expertise at Rally time and those who spent time in his company, always sang of his praises. He was a special man, a tremendous researcher and most thorough. May he rest in peace.
Death of Distinguished Historian
Longford lost one of its most devoted and meticulous historians on Saturday, May 13th, with the passing of John Carthy of Lismore, Newtownforbes, after a short illness. John will be well known to generations of Longfordians as he was Principal of Ballinalee National School for a long number of years. It is unlikely that many will have served the Longford community with such distinction in that time.
John Carthy will therefore be remembered with affection by scores of families in Longford and beyond as having made a massive impression during their formative years, but what is noteworthy about this proud Longfordian is that almost half a century's service to the education of Longford children is not his main legacy to his beloved county. John Carthy was a stalwart of the Longford Historical Society for decades, with his diligence and meticulous research methods held in the highest regard by all who encountered him or read his many essays and treaties on local history. He played a pivotal role in the creation of a monument commemorating the Clonfin Ambush of 1921, which was led by General Sean McEoin, the famous Blacksmith of Ballinalee, who was from the same townland. John Carthy was possibly Ireland's leading authority on this historic event and was justifiably proud of the monument marking one of the most dramatic events in Longford's Civil War circumstance.
As a former Chairman of the Longford Historical Society, John Carthy was central to the drive to create a county museum and was involved in the establishment of Longford's first exhibition museum. "One of the main achievements of our Society has been the collection of museum material and its conservation," he wrote in 1986. "This material has been successfully displayed in what was the American Cafe in 1972 and in 1973 and later in Maxwell's" he noted, clearly proud of the achievements of the society who provided a guard of honour at his funeral mass at St Mary's Church in Newtownforbes.
His legacy to the county includes the recent book Gowna Valley Revisited; a detailed atlas map of all the parishes in the diocese - a massive task undertaken with his usual care and attention - and Primary Schools in North Longford, a work undertaken with fellow historians Jimmy Casey and Sean Cahill.
John Carthy was a voracious reader and book reviewer, and regularly contributed to the Longford Leader and other publications. These works remain of great value and interest today. His interest in Irish history, the Irish language and pride in the part played by Longford was borne out by his remarkable attention to detail in everything he did. He is survived by his wife Mena and sons Hugh, who is in the army, Gerard, a well-known solicitor in Longford town, Ciaran, a pilot and Enda, a graphics artist. He will be missed by all his family and friends who can derive great consolation from his contribution to Longford through his professionalism and dedication as school principal and the assiduity with which he went about his work as historian. It is entirely appropriate that his passing has, in itself, become a part of the historical fabric of a county he loved so much.
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