Plaque in honour of Athy's Maisie Candy unveiled

THE esteem in which Maisie Candy was held in Churchtown and Castlemitchell was apparent at the unveiling of a plaque to one of the most beloved members of that close knit community on Sunday last.

The unveiling was performed by Maisie’s sister; Frances Fitzgerald and her brother Liam Kelly in the presence of members of the extended Candy family and a huge gathering of local friends and ex-pupils of Churchtown School, where Maisie taught for many years.

The afternoon kicked off with music from local Comhaltas musicians, including three generations of the Day family; Noreen on tin whistle, Niamh playing the banjo and Siofra, who played the harp.

Michael Sourke was MC for the afternoon, and he carried out his role in a manner that would have made his former teacher proud if she could have seen him.

Michael welcomed the Candy family and the large crowd that had turned out for the unveiling, he said that the plaque had been made and generously donated by Darren Moran.

He was joined by Phyllis Fennin for a rendition of The Curragh of Kildare and even Canon Frank McEvoy was heard to sing the chorus, now that was a first for the Laois man.

It fell to Deputy Mark Wall to speak before the unveiling.

Deputy Wall spoke for everyone in the community when he talked about the love that Maisie Candy had for her local community, about the pride she had in every pupil who ever sat in her classroom and how she instilled in every one of them a pride in the parish, the county and their country.

Deputy Wall recounted his first day in the tiny schoolyard in Churchtown and how Mrs Candy had looked after him on the day, in the same way she looked after every other child.

He said: “Mrs Candy was like a mother to us all, and not a day passes when I do not think of her and my own late mother and the life lessons, they taught me and the values they instilled in me, respect, integrity and the value of community.” 

Deputy Wall said it was an honour for him to speak at the unveiling of the memorial to Mrs Candy, someone who had worked tirelessly for the local community, always going above and beyond for all the people of the area.

Deputy Wall concluded by reminding people how Maisie Candy’s involvement in the locality served to foster and maintain the community spirit which has kept Castlemitchell and Churchtown such an active and vibrant community.

Canon Frank McEvoy, echoed the words of Deputy Wall and said that Maisie Candy made a huge difference to the lives of so many people in the locality, encouraging, educating and supporting pupils to be the best they could possibly be and rejoicing in their success and the success of local people in all walks of life.

He blessed the plaque and the people gathered there to honour such a worthy recipient. 

Tea, coffee, sweet cake and lively conversation continued at the after-dedication reception in the Old School, Mrs Candy would have been very proud.