Tributes paid to Puckane man

The death has taken place of a Puckane man who spent much of his life working as a carriage driver in Central Park in New York.

Seán Fay, Ballycraggan, Puckane, was a highly popular member of his local community both at home and in the US where he spent so many years. While he left Puckane for the States as an emigrant in the 1980s, Puckane never left Seán.

A loyal and passionate supporter of Kiladangan hurlers, his local GAA club described Seán as “an extremely proud and passionate Kiladangan man.

“He was an ever present face in the GAA field in Puckane whenever he vetured home from New York were he spent many years work.”

The club extended its sympathy to his family and friends, the latter including the Cathaoirleach of the NenaghMunicipal District, Cllr Séamus Morris, who said Seán was a great support to him at one of the most difficult times in his political career. “He dropped everything in New York and flew home and saved my life,” said Cllr Morris.

“He was one of the most intelligent people I knew and also a man of huge personal conviction. I fought with him many's a time, but when push came to shove Seán was there for me and my family,” said Councillor Morris, who added that he would be “irreplaceable” in his life.

A friend of Seán in New York who worked with him for many years, Paul McDaid, said he always spoke fondly of his community back home in Puckane. “A lot of people are heartbroken today,” he said on hearing of Seán's death. “A proud Irishman has passed on. A man with passion like Sean's will never be forgotten.”

Those at his Funeral Mass and viewing the ceremony online in Puckane Church on Saturday last were told that Seán was a proud Puckane, Tipperary and Irishman. He loved Ireland, its history, sport, music, countryside and its people.

He was very involved and interested in Irish politics and was a self declared “political junkie”, returning from New York frequently for elections to attend the counting of votes in Thurles.

As a music lover he went on tour with The Pogues on several occasions and was a friend of the band's singer Shane MacGowan whose roots are also in Puckane.

Following his Requiem Mass, Seán's remains were conveyed by a carriage dawn by two horses for burial in Cloughprior Cemetery.

Seán, who died on February 9th, is predeceased by his parents Chris and Johnny.

Among those surviving him are his sister Arlene, nieces Jessie and Louise, nephew Kieran, aunts Maureen and Madeline and uncle Willie.