Tributes paid to a 'legend' of the pub trade in Limerick

"ANY TIME you'd go into him, you'd remember his big smile. He was a real gentleman, and always had a good welcome for you."

The words of leading Limerick publican Dave Hickey on the passing of his friend of almost 60 years, the late John Joe O'Dea.

John Joe, who ran Jerry O'Dea's greyhound bar in Mulgrave Street in the city centre, passed away this Wednesday.

His funeral will take place at St John's Cathedral this Saturday at 11am. He'll be cremated the following day in Shannon, exactly a year to the day his son Jerry sadly died just before he was to become Mayor of Limerick.

Tributes have been paid to John Joe from across Limerick, who played a leading role in the local branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), which is a trade association of publicans in Ireland.

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Its chairperson in Limerick, Robert Byrne of Bobby Byrne's in O'Connell Avenue described him as a "legend" in the local pub trade, while former local VFI chair Paul Flannery, Flannery's Bar, Shannon Street added he and his family were "stalwarts" of the Vintners in Limerick.

John Joe went to work at Jerry O'Dea's as a youngster, with the pub then owned by his own uncle, Jerry O'Dea senior.

In the 1970s, the pub passed onto John Joe, before he in turn entrusted his own son Jerry with the running of the bar early on this century.

Mr Hickey said: "He was one of the best barmen you could ever have behind the counter. He could fly up and down the counter and he'd have the work done for everyone as he was filling drinks! He was just brilliant."

The South's proprietor first came to Limerick in 1959 and met John Joe soon after.

"At that time, he was involved in greyhounds and I was involved in greyhounds a bit. We worked together. He came into the Vintners. I was in the organisation, the chair for many years. Then I became president and he became treasurer. He did a great job."

Mulgrave Street was a busy area when John Joe came to the helm, with Shaw's meat factory., De Courcy's Auctioneers and St Joseph's Hospital.

As a result, Jerry O'Dea's pub - which ceased trading early this year - was quite often busy.

Despite this, Mr Hickey said John Joe was always very friendly.

"Any time you'd go into him, you'd remember his big smile. I think he'd like to be remembered as a nice good gentleman. He had no bas word to say about anyone. He was a very decent man, mad about his grandchildren."

Mr Byrne, a neighbour of John Joe in Ballyclough for many years added: "John Joe and Margaret [his late wife] would have been family friends of my own parents who would have been publicans as well. Nobody who ever knew him had a bad word to say about him. He was the nicest man."

John Joe died peacefully on Wednesday at Milford Care Centre in the presence of his family.

The beloved husband of the late Margaret and dearest father of Siobhán (Mooney), Andrew, Eileen (Collins) and the late Jerry.

He's also sadly missed by his loving children, adored grandchildren Andrew, Rebecca, Robert, Elena, Anabel, Eoghan, Thomas, Daniel, Béibhinn, Katherine and J.D..

Also by his sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, brothers Jerry and Tim, sisters Aileen and Brenda, extended family and his many friends.

May he rest in peace.

He will repose at Griffin’s Funeral Home, John’s Gate tomorrow, Friday, June 23, from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.

His funeral will arrive to St John’s Cathedral on Saturday June 24, for requiem Mass at 11am, streamed live here. A cremation service will take place in Shannon Crematorium on Sunday, June 25, at 12 noon.

No flowers please, donations, if desired, to Milford Care Centre.

Messages of sympathy may be conveyed by contacting www.griffinfunerals.com or by post to Griffin’s Funeral Home.