'She was always there' - Tributes paid to Louis Walsh’s late mother Maureen at touching funeral

The village of Kiltimagh in Mayo came to a standstill on Thursday afternoon, as mourners flocked to the Church of the Holy Family to pay respects to Maureen Walsh, the mother of Irish music mogul Louis Walsh.

Maureen, who was born in Clarkfield, Knock, some 94 years ago, passed away on Monday, June 2, in Saint Attracta’s Nursing Home in Charlestown.

The Kiltimagh native, aged 94, was well known as one of the characters of the town, and the number of people packed into the pews of the church was a mark of the esteem and regard in which she was held.

There was shock and sadness both in Kiltimagh and further afield upon the news of Maureen’s passing following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

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At the start of the service, a number of items were brought to the altar as a symbol of everything which made up Maureen’s character in life.

Nicole, Maureen’s granddaughter, brought a pair of rosary beads, as well as a symbol of Padre Pio, both representing her grandmother’s strong Christian faith and ties to God.

Joseph, her son, brought a Mayo flag to the altar, which she so often waved in support of the county’s Gaelic football team.

Next up was a radio, brought forward by another of her 20 grandchildren, Steven. Many a day was spent listening to Midwest Radio.

Granddaughter Jade was the fourth to bring a memento to the altar. This time, Maureen’s baking tray was brought forward. Her baking, and in particular her scones, were a highlight of her many recipes.

Tilly was next, bringing a family photo forward. The photo represented a deep and lasting love for Maureen towards her family.

Una was last and brought forward a pack of playing cards, as well as a copy of ‘Ireland’s Own’. Maureen was known to have loved to play the card game ‘25’, and organised games around the community.

Following the Readings, in between which the hymn ‘Be Not Afraid’ was sung, as well as the Gospel, Father Michael Quinn spoke of the importance that Maureen was held in by so many.

First, he touched upon the impact of Maureen on her family, her ability to be ‘a true friend’, and her ability to bring a brilliant atmosphere to her workplace, Western Care in Ballinamore.

“Here in town, Maureen was a treasured neighbour, her door always open to drop into to enjoy her hospitality, have a chat and a laugh, and to know whatever the need, she was always there to be the best support she could be,” Father Quinn stated.

“Further still, these days we recall sharing wonderful times with Maureen in her various interests, her love of playing cards, as the symbols have said to us, both the house games and those organised for the wider community. The enjoyment so many experienced with her in set dancing, in the pioneer trips, or in bingo.”

Father Quinn also spoke of the mammoth efforts of both Maureen and her late husband, Frank, who passed in 1995, to raise their children.

“Both Maureen and Frank took life as it was and worked with it. What was paramount for them was the well-being of you, their family, and doing everything they could to give you the best opportunities for the future.”

“It had to be a great consolation and comfort to see each of you blossom in your own way and impact for good the lives of so many others.”

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The funeral celebrant also addressed the grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom Maureen cherished.

“You will always treasure what you've been able to experience by spending time together with her, having Maureen as part of the various celebrations in your lives, while it was possible for her to do so.

“The kind of person she was, the example of her life, will continue to be spoken about into the future.”

There is no doubt about the extent of the pain and difficulty that can arise when those you love the most are impacted by Alzheimer’s, and this was also touched upon by Father Quinn.

“One of the most difficult things to accept in our lives is when health issues begin to steal away the contribution we are hoping a person will be able to make for many years to come,” he stated, “and all the more challenging to accept when a person is outgoing and vivacious and sociable, very interested in people.

“In the midst of your loss, I know that you, the family circle, believe that for Maureen herself, she is now free of these limitations.”

At the end of the service, both Maureen’s daughter, Sarah, and son, Frank, spoke glowingly of the upbringing afforded to them by their parents.

“We had a great upbringing,” Sarah stated. “We wanted for nothing, knew nothing but love.”

Sarah also spoke of her mother’s passion for set dancing, where she was crowned champion of Mayo, as well as her passion for the music of Michael English and Mike Denver.

Midwest Radio was also a constant in her life from morning to night, wherever she travelled.

“She said she used to go to bed with Michael Commins twice a week! Go figure,” regaled her daughter from the altar.

Maureen was revered as the pillar of her family, and this sentiment was shared by Frank.

“Maureen lived for her family,” he said. “She was the heart, she was the rock. We all loved her, respected her, and feared her. But she always wanted us to be together.

“She believed deeply in the family and, without exception, she loved. She was a hard worker, she had great faith, absolutely great faith, and she'd find joy in simple things."

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It was clear from every word that was spoken from the altar by the multiple people paying tribute to her, that she was larger than life.

“She was a woman of great strength, loyalty, grace, infectious laughter, compassion, but remarkable resilience, as we know,” Frank shared. “Her life wasn't defined by big grand gestures but by countless small acts of goodness, kindness, and love.

“But if you overstep the line, she'd give you a look, and you knew you were going no further. She had a great way of giving a pinch, and if you got that, you knew you had gone too far. Totally.”

Frank closed off his powerful eulogy by thanking the crowds who packed into the church to remember his mother.

“Louis must be charging admittance,” he quipped.

One thing is for certain. The ability of Louis Walsh to capture the hearts and minds of the myriad of people he met in his life and the charisma he displayed along the way certainly wasn’t plucked out of thin air.

That ability to charm and captivate anyone who interacted with him was shared in droves with his mother, who left a lasting impact on her friends and family, and from what was said at her funeral, she will be missed by many.

May she rest in peace.