The death has occurred of David ‘Dauber’ Prendiville, Cordal West, Castleisland, Co. Kerry and formerly of 150 Main Street, Castleisland.
Peacefully on May 26th 2022 in the wonderful care of his loving family at the residence of his daughter Maggie in Cordal West.
Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his loving wife Anne, son Shay, daughters Julie and Maggie, sons-in-law Lee and Denis, his adored four grandchildren: Áine, David, Sonny and Julie, his sister Sheila Colbert, Abbeyfeale, sister-in-law Mary Joe Prendiville, Abbeyfeale nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
David Prendiville – The Postman
And a gentle soul he had. I can remember the first day I met David Prendiville – the postman.
It was, we confirmed over a few pints years later, in 1963 when he was filling in and doing the post for his father’s holiday break.
He made a huge impression on me then and ever since in so many different ways.
That day in 1963, like many others back then, I used to run down to the gate at the end of our bohereen to meet the postman.
They were all elderly men to my child’s eye. But then this dark haired young man appeared from under a huge olive green cloak with a bag of letters.
Under an Olive Green Cloak
We sheltered from a summer downpour under the cloak and he sorted the letters and handed me ours and a letter for our neighbours, the Leane’s.
And then he was gone and I didn’t see him again for a few years until one Christmas in town when he appeared with a sheepskin coat and the cut of a young man doing well and home from England.
Our patronage of places like Skevenas and Sheila Prendiville’s bars over the past few decades threw himself and Mike Kenny and myself together playing cards and going to funerals and singing and sorting the world out.
A Sculptor’s Model
We’d meet for the grand national and all the Kerry games and big rugby matches over a few pints and himself and Mike travelled to Cardiff for one of the Heineken Cup finals. He was a keen rugby fan and a player in his younger days being born just across the road from the old entrance to The Crageens.
He also sat for Mike Kenny when he was sculpting the pieces of Johnny O’Leary and Seán Ó Riada when it came down to the folds in coats and trousers and how the bows of laces fell on shoes.
I find it extremely strange to be sitting here and writing like this about a man whom I considered a solid friend.
Making People Laugh
A man whose gift was making people laugh with ease, with comments that were pithy and witty and delivered with the kind of timing that comedians survive and thrive and maintain reputations on and not a syllable too few or too many.
Once upon a time when he was being informally interviewed for a job as a drinks delivery lorry driver he was asked if he knew the pubs in Abbeyfeale. “I do, he said,” front and back.”
I’ve been to see him over the past few days as he slipped away from us and I can vouch for the aforementioned loving care he received from Maggie and Julie and their neighbour and nurses, Jetta and Carmel.
We’ll all miss him and I’m grateful to Maggie and Denis for facilitating our meetings for the couple of pints at Hughes in Cordal over the past twelve months or so since restrictions eased.
May God be good to him.
David’s Funeral Arrangements
Reposing at Tangney’s Funeral Home, Church Street, Castleisland on Friday evening from 5pm to 7pm.
Removal from his daughter Maggie’s residence at Cordal West at 11.30am on Saturday morning arriving to Cordal Church for Requiem Mass at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in Kilbanivane Cemetery, Castleisland.
Family flowers only please. Donations in lieu to the Alzheimer’s Association c/o Tangney’s Funeral Home.
Date Published: Thursday 26th May 2022. Date of Death: Thursday 26th May 2022.
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