Jeremiah ‘Darby’ McAuliffe, Knockachur, Knocknagoshel, passed away peacefully on Monday June 30th at Kerry General Hospital.
Born on January 6th 1949 to Patrick and Catherine (nee Casey) McAuliffe, he was one of eleven children and grew up on the family farm.
Darby emigrated to England and it was there he met and married Bernadette (nee Quirke). Shortly after getting married they returned home to Ireland to run the farm in Knockachur and went on to rear their six children, Kathleen, Mary, Jeremiah, Sarah, Bernadette and Denis.
Darby loved to be out on the land and helping neighbours in any way he could. He was an avid reader and loved to learn about the history of Ireland. Another hobby of his was horses. He always kept one or two, and loved going to Puck Fair and was always sure to come home with a horse. He also loved to socialise and usually would be found in Kearney’s Bar in Castleisland for a few drinks after the mart.
He died comfortably in his sleep in the great care of the doctors and nurses in Kerry General Hospital. His courage and determination to fight his illness remained until the very end. Darby was predeceased by his wife Bernadette, parents Patrick and Catherine and his brother Patrick. He is survived and greatly missed by his children Kathleen, Mary, Jeremiah, Sarah, Bernadette and Denis, his six grandchildren, son-in-law, brothers Mike, Bill and Tadhg, sisters Rita, Sheila, Kit, Doreen, Mary and Martina, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, neighbours and all who knew him.
May he rest in peace.
My thanks to Sarah McAuliffe and Willie Reidy for this obituary.
