He was ‘The Gardener’ to people who didn’t know him but were aware of his presence and his quiet way of working on the periphery of the Castleisland Community Garden – while it lasted.
The late Killarney native, Castleisland resident, Billy O’Brien would have been very happy to be known just as that – such was his passion for plants and taking charge of an area, transforming it and making it his own.
Fate denied Billy the final Christmas of his 67 years as he died on the day before last Christmas Eve.
Loved Christmas
He loved Christmas and the excitement it generated around his grandchildren and he loved being in the thick of it. His funeral took place on the day after St. Stephen’s Day and there’s a poignancy in that too as you’ll see from the tribute paid to him during his Mass by his first grand-daughter Kate Elizabeth Carty – who will be 16 this summer.
Her fond tribute here paints the kind of portrait that should be a template for a childhood enjoyed in the company of caring, imaginative grandparents:
Dear Granda Billy,
Since I’m your first grand-daughter you always took care of me.
You introduced me to loads of different things, stuff like music, manners finding treasure down at the football field even though the treasure would just be a toothpick on the ground, you would still count it as treasure and of course there’s always one that found nothing and you would always say ‘Well if you looked with your eyes you’d be able to find something.’
Black Beauty at the Football Field
I still remember those iconic pictures at the football field with the pure black horse – Black Beauty as you would call her from that old movie.
Christmas was always your favourite time of year waking up at 6 o’clock in the morning for Santa and mom would always say : ‘No dad go back she’s still asleep’ and you’d do laps around to the lads house and the same thing is said again.
You introduced me to the best music, the right music. First Queen then Pink Floyd, Thin Lizzy and my favourite now Rod Stewart.
One Energetic Man
“Music is my life” as you used to say and by God is that true. You were one energetic man but so gentle with everyone.
You thaught us how to plant flowers in the garden. The garden that is filled with weeds now but sure that was Granda Billy.
Camping as we used to call it with the girls and we would wake up in the morning and the first thing you would say was “Anyone want a gogo or sassy? which would make us all laugh and skitter.”
Sitting over in the sitting room watching TV with you was the funniest. We would always play that game whose ad is next?
The Best Nicknames
I always got the AIB ads and granda would get those holiday ads and you would always say ‘Oh lovely trip to France that.’
You came up with the best nicknames for us all. Kate, Katie Daly, Rebecca Becky, Jessica Jessie, Aisling, Curley Sue, Pádraig, Podge, Evan Ev and Laura, Lollas.
The presents you would get us with no names just take away. No tractor this Christmas Granda for Pádraig and Laura.
Could have been three years in a row, but you never forgot those colouring books ‘the best of them all’ you would say.
The Best Grandad
Anytime I would meet you, you would say ‘Hey Katie!’ Oh wait wait, Freddie Mercury is going to be on TV not sure what time But it will be on RTÉ 2.
You were the best grandad to me, Evan, Pádraig, Jessica, Becky, Aisling, and Laura. You were the best dad to my mom Eileen my aunties: Mary, Cats and Noreen and the best husband to my nan Kay. You were the best dad, grandad, husband and friend to us all.
We all love you to bits, Billy the Kid, Granda Billy and Gollywog. May you rest in peace Grand-dad.
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