*Ita O’Looney.
THE recent deaths of sisters Ita O’Looney and Ann Murphy were mourned in their native Soilshaune, Inagh, in Dublin and Canada where they lived and worked.
By Tony Mulvey
Ita O’Looney who resided in Clareville Court Glasnevin, Dublin, was attached to the civil service for many years until her retirement in 2009. In total she spent 38 years of her life with the body of civil servants, 33 years of which were with Houses of the Oireachtas.
Many tributes were paid to her on her retirement when he was senior clerk with the secretariat of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. Leading the tributes was the chairman of the committee who spoke of Ita’s loyal service. He said that having worked in various sections in the Houses of the Oireachtas, Ita spent her final years working with the committee secretariat, in particular the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. Personally, he wanted to thank her for her diligence, respect and commitment during the years and particularly for all the hard work she did for the committee. She was efficient, effective and always on the ball. They could rely on her all the time. Her contribution to the committee would be missed and they wished her a long and happy retirement.
Since her retirement Ita enjoyed a number of past times which included playing bridge and she was also a member of the Clare Association in Dublin-Muintir an Chláir-of which her brother Liam has been a long standing officer and one of its stalwarts.
Ann Murphy who died in Quebec on October 10 last was born in Inagh in 1944 and trained as a nurse and midwife in Dublin. After meeting her husband to be, Desmond Murphy from Dalkey, Dublin at a music festival they moved to Canada in 1967 and got married shortly afterwards. Spending their time between, Ireland, Canada and New York, they settled in Montreal. Ann went on to pursue a degree in psychology and worked as a psychiatric nurse in Montreal General and Allan Memorial Institute. She was recognised as a person with many talents and interests and had a great passion for creative arts in knitting, weaving and ceramics. She was also fond of cooking and will be remembered for her adventurous spirit.
Her late husband of 50 years, Desmond, died in 2017. He was attached to management of Air Canada. Ann’s funeral took place in Montreal on October 22.
Ita’s death took place at St. Vincent’s Private Hospital, Dublin on February 28th. Reposal was at Kirwans Funeral Home, Fairview, Dublin on March 5th, arriving at St. Colman’s church, Iona Road, Dublin for funeral mass. There was a large and representative attendance at the mass including representatives of The Clare Association Dublin. Members of Ita’s bridge club paid their tribute with a guard of honour.
People who assisted Ita during her life were also remembered at the mass, including Dr. John Garvey, respiratory consultant, who is a native of Barefield near Ennis.
Ita’s remains arrived at the Church of the Immaculate conception, Inagh for funeral mass on Thursday, March 7.It was a particularly sad occasion for the O’ Looney family with the cremated remains of Ita’s sister, Ann, also before the altar.
The funeral mass was celebrated by Fr. Martin Shanahan who also officiated at the graveside for the burial of the two sisters.
Predeceased by parents Ann and Patrick O’ Looney, brothers John and Frank, sister Ann, brothers-in-law Thomas Cahill and Desmond Murphy, and sister-in-law Margaret O’ Looney, Ita is sadly missed by her sister Mary Cahill, Kilmaley, brothers Liam (Dublin) and Christy (Inagh), sisters- in- law Pat and Josie, nieces Petrouschka, Emer, Mairead, Giselle, Aileen and Natalie, nephews Colm, Fidel, Brian, Donnacha, Adrian, Ronan, Fintan, Paul, Christopher and Mary, grandnieces and grandnephews, and a wide circle of friends and neighbours.
Ann is also survived by her three children Petrouschka (Norway) Fidel (Vancouver) ,Giselle (Kevin) Montreal and grandchildren.
Ita’s month’s mind mass will be celebrated in St. Colman’s Church,Iona Road, Dublin on Monday April 8 at 10.30a.m. and in Inagh church on Friday, April 12 at 7.30p.m. Ann will also be remembered at both masses.
