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Margaret O’Rourke RIP
The whole community was deeply shocked and greatly saddened
to hear news of the sudden death of
Margaret O’Rourke, Cloonmone,
on Monday, July 15.
Margaret, who had been taken ill on the previous Saturday,
died peacefully in Sligo
General Hospital.
Margaret was born in Drumnafinla, Ballinaglera.
By the time she was in her teens Margaret was noted for her fine singing voice.
During
these early years she sang with a number of groups and bands
but it was when she joined
the Hi-
Margaret O’Rourke became known throughout the
length and breadth of Ireland.
Not only did she entertain the crowds on the dance-
but she also sang in the church choir, she sang at charity functions
and she
sang at weddings and funerals.
She thoroughly enjoyed her singing career
and she enjoyed meeting people from all
over the country and entertaining them
with her renditions of “My Old Leitrim Home”,
“Rose of Mooncoin”,
“Mocking Bird Hill” and many other popular favourites.
Unfortunately, Margaret had to cease her singing career
when she lost her voice in
the early 1990’s.
In 1975 Margaret married Tommy O’Rourke
and she came to live in Cloonmone, Drumkeeran.
They
had two daughters, Arleen and Treasa.
Margaret was a most loving and devoted wife
and mother.
She was at he heart of the O’Rourke home and she lived her life for her
family.
After the loss of her singing voice Margaret threw herself into all aspects of community
life.
She was deeply involved in Drumkeeran ICA.
She was also involved in Leitrim VEC,
Corry
Development, The Board of Management of Drumkeeran NS,
Drumkeeran Community Council
and Drumkeeran Drama Group.
At parish level she was a Minister of the Eucharist in Drumkeeran Church,
and she
served as a member of the Pastoral Council.
It was while she was arranging the altar
flowers in the church on Saturday
that she took ill and was subsequently taken to
hospital.
Flower arrangement was just one of Margaret’s many talents.
Apart from her talent
as a very fine singer,
she was also noted for her cooking and baking, for her design
and sewing,
and for her talent as an actor with the Drumkeeran Drama Group.
She was
a natural on the stage and over the past five years
she was outstanding in various
roles in dramas such as “Widow’s Paradise”,
“Lovely Leitrim” and, earlier this year,
“Say Cheese!”
Despite her deep commitment to her family life
and her involvement in so many aspects
of community life
Margaret still found the time to reach out a helping a hand to people
in trouble.
Having herself overcome serious illness about 12 years ago
she was especially
conscious of the trauma experienced
by those coping with similar illnesses.
She was
always ready to support them, to be with them, to comfort them
and, above all, to
encourage them in their battle to overcome their illness.
She also committed herself to looking after another special group of people,
those
who travelled on the Kilmore Pilgrimages to Lourdes.
On at least ten occasions she
travelled to Lourdes as a helper,
caring for and looking after disabled and sick pilgrims
from our diocese.
It was because of her dedication to her work for the pilgrims that
Bishop
Leo O’Reilly and many Kilmore priests attended the removal and/or funeral.
As was befitting a lady who was involved in so many aspects
of community life, parish
life and diocesan life,
huge numbers of people attended the removal and the funeral.
The Funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr Mawn, PP Ballinaglera,
assisted by Fr Kevin
Fay, Fr Kevin Donohoe, Fr Martin Gilcreest
and other priests who knew Margaret through
her work
with the Kilmore Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
After the Mass Margaret was laid to rest in the family plot
in Drumkeeran cemetery.
Margaret is survived by her husband Tommy,
by her daughters Arleen and Treasa
and by
her brother Peter in Ballinaglera.