Even though living London for the past thirty five years, the late Brian Fitzgerald steadfastly remained a proud Ennis and Clare man up to the time of his recent death.
By Tony Mulvey
He was fondly remembered among the big attendance at his funeral mass in St. Joseph’s Church Ennis on Saturday last. Afterwards the burial of his ashes took place in Drumcliffe Cemetery in the grave of his wife, the former Mary Callinan, Clarecastle and their infant son Eamon.
Many tributes were paid to the former Ennis CBS primary school teacher and GAA enthusiast who played Dr. Harty Cup and Dean Ryan hurling with his school and later with his beloved Éire Óg and minor grade with Clare. He was also secretary of the Éire Óg club for some time.
He was a native of Clare Road, Ennis and a son of the late M.J. and Maisie Fitzgerald. He was born in March 1946 and was aged seventy seven years at the time of his death on June 11 last.
His lifelong friend and another well known Townie, Noel Howard was among those who paid tribute to Brian at his funeral mass. Knowing Brian since he was five years old, Noel recalled that like a lot of Ennis youngsters Brian attended the Convent of Mercy before going on to complete his education at Ennis CBS primary and secondary schools. He decided to take up teaching as a career and carried out his training at St. Patrick’s College in Drumcondra, Dublin.
His first appointment was to North Brunswick school in Dublin where among the teaching staff was Paddy Crosbie who will be remembered for his popular radio programme ‘The School Around the Corne’ which first aired in Easter 1954. Afterwards Brian taught at Sexton Street CBS in Limerick before returning to Ennis to continue a very successful career in his former alma mater. There he continued to promote hurling and was also instrumental in having a handball alley and squash courts developed at Ennis CBS. He was always delighted to see his past pupils progress well in life and was proud of the fact that two of them, Stephen McNamara and Seanie McMahon won All Ireland senior championship medals with Clare in 1995 and 1997.
After over 20 years teaching in Ennis he decided to retire and went London to manage The Cantebury Arms pub in Brixton. He upgraded the premises and ran a very successful business with the help of his wife Mary and family and Brian’s brother-in-law Eamon Callinan. It became well known for its promotion of Irish music and for the benefit of his Irish clientele, Brian had all the well known Irish provincial newspapers at their disposal every weekend including The Clare Champion. His customers also included police and fire brigade personnel from their near-by stations.
However, Brian had to retire from business in 2015 when The Cantebury Arms was sold to make way for a major development in the area. Brian and his wife then relocated to live in Beckenham London.
Noel who visited Brian and family many times in London, also recalled Brian making many trips home especially when Clare were playing hurling championship games.
Big disappointments for Brian was the death of his wife, Mary in June 2020 and the death of their infant son Eamon.
He also mentioned how Brian regretted at missing out by one year from winning a Dr. Harty Munster Colleges Cup medal with Ennis CBS in 1962. He featured with the school team in 1963.
Brian’s death took place in London on June 11 last after which cremation took place at Beckenham Crematorium on July 11.
There was a large attendance of friends at Brian’s funeral mass in St. Joseph’s church,Ennis on Saturday last. Fr. David Carroll celebrated the mass after which members of Éire Óg GAA club paid their tribute with a guard of honour. Fr. Carroll also officiated at the graveside ceremony in Drumcliffe cemetery.
Sympathy is extended to Brian’s daughters, Michelle and Mary Lisa, his brothers M.J. and Gerard ( Australia), sister Geraldine Sheehan and members of the Callinan family.
