2 | OWEN’S ORACLE

Owen O’Reilly was born

in Marino, Dublin on

9th April, 1925. His

mammy and daddy

welcomed his arrival, along

with his brother Paddy, sister

Rose and Gerard, who joined

the O’Reilly family five years

later.

Seamus O’Flaherty was

Owen’s school pal and both

have remained good friends

to this day.

There were many

significant events in Owen’s

life growing up. One of the

many stories he often

recalled was of his

Confirmation day. He had the

beautiful suit but as the day

progressed he became ill

with abdominal pains? Now

Owen always remembers the

day he had his appendix

out!! He often jokes that his

parents got a refund on the

suit that was barely worn!!

Owen’s early employments

varied and included the cycle

up Howth Head, for Shield’s

Butchers! This job was short-

lived! The bicycle was stolen

as Owen made a short stop

at a shop!

The most significant times

in Owen’s work life were after

he joined the Irish Press

newspaper group. These

were the times an ‘extra

passenger’ accompanied

Owen on his way to work! Yes

Owen always loves “that he

was chased by Lil!”

Lil O’Brien was his one and

only. Their courting days

were wonderful and Lil and

Owen married on 16th

September, 1958. They were

blessed with five children,

Joseph, Mary, Ann, Thomas

and Niamh.

Childhood holidays were

spent with Kitty and Paddy in

Howth and Frank and

Maureen in Rush.

Owen remained with the

Irish Press for over thirty-five

years until his retirement in

1985. Working day and night

shifts in the machine room

Owen witnessed many

changes in the world of

publishing media.

Newspapers became part

of his family life and

coincidently Owen’s brother

Gerard joined the Irish

Independent Newspaper

Group, and retired from the

Irish Times newspapers many

years later. Owen maintains

his interests in newspapers

to this very day and will still

comment on print layouts or

oversights and of course the

newspaper must always be

the ‘City Final’ edition!

Owen enjoyed many

activities and was involved

with the Parish Choir in the

Church of the Annunciation,

Finglas West. He spent many

happy times in his Bowls

Club with Gerard and Tom

and Frances. He enjoyed

holidays away and

made the annual

pilgrimage to Lourdes

with the parish for many

years.

As life went on and

times changed Owen

and the O’Reilly clan

were blessed to have

Betty and Mark Murphy

in their lives. This is a

special times to

remember them and Lil

and Niamh.

Owen has the best

two daughter-in-laws in

the world, in his life. Two

more special people

that call him ‘dad’! Sure

Tina and Tara know all the

best people come from

Finglas! And it gets better!

Owen has four wonderful,

beautiful grandsons that fill

his days with laughter,

wonder and Joy. His

immense pride in their

individuality and talents

increases every day. Thank-

you Alan, Mark, Sean and

Eoin for all the craic!

Owen and the gang have

been so fortunate with

special people over the years

that supported them in

tougher times.

The O'Brien and O'Reilly

clans, far and wide, kept the

spirit and energy of family

alive.

The Shaw family have been

friends for many years and it

is great to see that friendship

and spirit emerge from a

younger generation. Lynda

and Reg have been there

from the start...sure in all

those old family photos there

is sure to be a head or a

ARE MADE OF THIS!

OWEN’S ORACLE | 3

Met Eireann have issued a

major weather warning

for Saturday, 11th

April 2015!

A STATUS ORANGE alert

will be in operation from noon

on Saturday and continue into

the early hours of Sunday

12th. An area of extremely

high pressure can be detected

in the West Finglas area of

Dublin extending rapidly to

the Blanchardstown region,

with hot spots appearing in

the vicinity of the Crown Plaza

Hotel well into the evening!

It has been reported that the heat

generated from the accumulation of

flames from ninety birthday candles

will cause extreme turbulence in the

air mass index! High pressure rising

rapidly will block polar air and the

prevailing westerlies. A worrying wind

squall, as the flames are extinguished,

will be monitored with specialised

equipment recently acquired by the

meteorological services in Europe.

The Dublin Fire Brigade will be on-site

with all units on stand-by until Met

Eireann downgrade this major alert.

This is indeed a very rare

phenomenon in the history of

weather forecasting in Ireland.

Studies in this field go back to 1925

when the first recorded incident of

this kind occurred in the Marino area

funny pose from Reg, somewhere

among the O’Reilly gang, on those

special occasions! How many people

have their own personal hairdresser

who tells the client when their cut is

due? In thanks Owen employs a

bartering system...he repays Lynda with

a dozen of the finest, biggest hen eggs,

and Elizabeth likes them too!

Owen is so lucky to have so many

other special people in his life! Edel,

Carol and Lorna Murphy, and Betty and

Mark’s grandchildren Heather and

David who will always be special. He

includes Ger and Terry there too!

To Lorraine...thanks a million; to

Sheila who adopted Owen as her dad,

you are music to his ears! Thanks also

to Carol for all the tellybingos! Special

thanks also to Siobhan, Bernard, Larry

and Martha for all you do.

A special word of thanks also to the

other Betty and her son David in No.

32; to Christy, Kathleen, Una, Lily, Peter

and Tina, thank you all; as the song

goes...’Everybody Needs Good

Neighbours’!!

In keeping with the changing times

and Owen’s advancing technological

skills in the use of his iPad, we have

digitalised Owen’s special publication.

Owen is indeed ‘a legend since 1925!’

Owen’s Oracle is for all his family and

friends. So go on...enjoy it...and ‘Read

all about it!’

of Dublin! Meteorology specialists

worldwide have been unable to

explain this atmospheric change that

illuminate surroundings. A “short-fuse

warning” which has been defined by

the met office as ‘a local weather

hazard of short duration’ is the only

known description to this curious

weather event.

Meanwhile people in the vicinity of

the Crown Plaza Hotel in

Blanchardstown, have been asked to

be extremely vigilant of these

developments until the temperature

stabilises with good visibility for all.

On a positive note meteorologists

worldwide are confident that the

outlook will be for a sunny disposition

for all those in attendance and an

extremely warm front that will only

‘melt your heart’!

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY OWEN!

MAJOR WEATHERWARNING!

4 | OWEN’S ORACLE

In preparing to

celebrate

Owen’s special

birthday we

received many

stories from

family and

friends

recounting their

own magical

tales of Owen.

Those

memories have

been

reproduced to

share with you.

When we were kids Owen

and Lil took us for a spin

in his car with my dad Paddy

and we ended up in Wicklow.

On the way back Paddy asked

if he could drive Owen’s car

home! Paddy ended up driving

the car into a ditch!!!! We were

left stranded for hours!!!!

I want to take this

opportunity to thank Owen for

the eggs we got every year on

Easter Sunday. Owen would

arrive with four eggs, one for

Bernie, Pat, Seamus and

myself.

We all looked forward to

them. It meant we all got two

eggs on Easter Sunday, one

from their mam and dad and

one from Owen. They were

wonderful times!

Bernie, Marie’s sister, remembers

another story:

Owen, Lil and Paddy went to

the beach one day with all the

kids and they all had a great

time splashing about in the

water. Later when Marie, who

was about six years old at the

time, was trying to get dressed

struggling with her towel, she

noticed another girl standing

nearby looking in her

direction. Marie turned to her

and asked her “Are ye gawkin?”

She walked off and Owen fell

out of his standing with the

laughter!!!

My father Paddy used to be a cobbler when we

were younger and mended the shoes of

friends and family members from home! Owen

dropped a pair of his signature black shoes in for

repair. My mother Maureen was lighting the fire

one day and couldn’t get it going??? Sometimes

she would even throw paraffin oil onto the fire to

get it started. However this day she had run out of

sticks and paraffin oil and guess what she found at

the end of the wardrobe...???? Yes...she found a

shoe and threw it onto the fire and soon had the

fire blazing!

Not long after that Owen came knocking on the

door for his shoes! My father nearly died because

he could only find one shoe in the wardrobe?? My

father went out and bought Owen a new pair of

shoes but I don’t think Owen ever found out what

happened to his missing shoe!

Bernie remembers another story:

When Owen and Lil were courting they used to

take us all (my brothers and sister) in turn, on a

trip to the circus. I was picked more often than the

others? My father would sneak me out to meet

Owen and Lil and Owen would collect me at the

end of the road in his black car. It was only when I

got older that I found out the reason why I had

more trips to the circus than the others!

TO SHARE

MARIE O’REILLY (Owen’s niece) – Our American Correspondent!

BERNIE O’REILLY (Owen’s niece)

Apparently, I used to laugh the loudest at the

clowns! I thought Owen and Lil were laughing at

the clowns with me but it turned out that they

were laughing at me, because I was laughing so

much, and they had so much fun watching me!!

Bernie also remembers when Owen and Lil

came to visit with their own children when they

were small. They loved to watch Marie and herself

bake buns, cream flans, and Victoria sponges.

Owen and Lil used to say that they couldn’t wait ‘til

Mary and Ann were able to bake cakes for them

for their tea!!!

Gerard, Bernie and Naomi out and about with Owen!

Marie

O’Reilly

OWEN’S ORACLE | 5

Betty Murphy was Lil’s best

pal and in turn became

Owen’s very special and best

friend. They did lots of things

BETTY MURPHY together and most of it

involved Joe, Mary, Ann,

Thomas and Niamh and

especially Niamh!!

Betty and Owen were often

seen driving together, chatting

at doorways, doing messages

for each other, Betty cooking

Owen’s favourite meals and

generally spending lots of time

together!!

Nothing strange about that

you might think, and especially

in those days it was good to

have a good friend especially as

Owen was rearing five young

children on his own. Well he

wasn’t really on his own as

Betty was there every step of

the way.

Oh did I fail to mention that

there were three people in

Betty’s marriage.

Betty had a husband, Mark!!

And Betty had other children,

her own Edel, Carol and Lorna

and of course Jet the dog!!Betty and Owen

Betty and Mark

David and

Heather, Betty

and Mark’s

grandchildren say

that they are

severely

traumatised!!

Why? Because

their nana had a

boyfriend! Not

only did she have

a boyfriend but

their grandad was

okay with this!!!

Their encounters happened in

broad daylight!! Owen would call

to Betty’s door and they would

spend a lot of time talking

together while their granddad

was inside and he never said a

word! They are more than

traumatised!!

David and Heather

remember Owen bringing the

newspaper to their nana and

grandad every day.

Sometimes they would talk

for ages at the door or the

gate and leave two starving

children inside! Oh they are

so traumatised in many ways!!

Nevertheless David and

Heather want to wish their

nana’s boyfriend a very

happy birthday and they

remember their nana and

grandad in a really special

way today. XXDavid and Owen

Children Traumatised!

EDEL, CAROL and LORNA MURPHY, Betty’s biological

family, as opposed to her adopted ‘O’Reilly bunch’,

always remember Owen being there. The O’Reilly family

have been there as long as the Murphy clan.

EDEL: I remember Owen coming home from work in the

Irish Press, walking up the road in his overcoat and shirt

and tie. I knew then it was time for tea! On Good Friday I

would cook eggs and chips for Owen and all the

O’Reilly’s and I remember they all enjoyed them.

Thanks Edel, and when did you stop that tradition???

LORNA: I have memories of calling down to Owen to get

help with a chimney fire! Owen came up and made it

worse by putting newspaper in front of the fire. The room

filled with smoke and Owen then told Ger to ring the fire

brigade!!

CAROL: I remembers Kathleen Keogh and Mrs Walsh

having a chat one day.

Mrs Walsh “I wonder why Mrs Murphy and Mr. O’Reilly

don’t move in together, instead of running between the

two houses!!?

Kathleen...“I think Mr. Murphy might have a problem

with that?

Mrs Walsh...“What, there IS a Mr. Murphy?”

Owen was Carol’s personal driver and also remembers

him as ‘her mammy’s boyfriend’!

Breaking News...Breaking News...

Owen and Heather

Edel, Lorna and Carol

6 | OWEN’S ORACLE

Iremember Niamh opening the door to me

one day and trying to be serious and not to

laugh, which was a very hard thing for Niamh

to do!!!

You see dad had broken his false teeth and

this was indeed a very serious matter that

had to be treated as such.

I walked into the sitting room to be

confronted by dad who was very serious

looking and concerned about his awful

situation!

He took one look at me and Niamh and

said: “You told her?” I burst out laughing and

sure then dad joined in too! Niamh was at last

able to be her funny self, and let out the

shrieks of laughter!!

MAGICAL MEMORIES TO SHARE...

MARY

One of the stories

that I remember

about dad happened

when mammy was sick in

hospital. Dad decided to buy

new trousers! The trousers

were too long and as usual

he went to Betty to have

them altered.

Once the hem was cut and

the trousers altered dad

changed his mind and

decided that he didn’t like

them anymore!

So what does Dad do...? He

returned the trousers to the

shop and ‘got a full refund!’

But the story doesn’t end

there!

V Q R N H R L V Z Y N N U FI L A U G H G E S E R H F YE L T N E G H N W F W I A BW Y Z D N I K O E I W P Y XG I N S P I R A T I O N A LX C I V G E Q G S M E W P UF E F I L F O L L U F W D GW R C H A R M I N G E V E DP D U O R P E R J N F N U BF L A C I G O L O N H C E TY A F L G K D L B M V H N DW C A U C Q K D E V O L Q OS X S M I L I N G F L U I MF A M I L Y T I M E L F Z M

WORDS DESCRIBING OWEN

CHARMINGFAMILYTIMEFULLOFLIFE

FUNNYGENTLE

INSPIRATIONALKIND

LAUGH LOVED PROUD

SMILING TECHNOLOGICAL

Owen and Mary

Sometime later dad and

Joe returned to the same

shop to buy more trousers.

The shop assistant was

helping him to choose when

he picked up the original pair

of trousers that dad had

returned. He held them up

and said: “gosh these trousers

must have been made for a

midget!” He looked at dad

and laughed and dad

apparently joined in the

conversation and agreed

with him!

Dad then paid for a

different pair of trousers and

left! We often wondered if

they ever did sell those

trousers!

Needless to say it gave

mammy lots of laughs when

dad and Betty visited the

hospital that night! Mammy

could not believe that dad

had been that brazen!

Oh the thing’s one has to

do in the name of fashion!!

When I stated nursing I had

to get to work one morning

as it had snowed heavily

overnight so I decided to

walk there. Because dad is

dad he got up early and

walked almost all the way to

Fairview with me as it was

still very dark. I was in my

20’s at the time but that

didn’t matter. Dad kept me

company and knew then I

was safe.

So thanks Dad!

ANN

Owen and Ann

Holidays in Courtown, Co. Wexford - 1975

Lil and Owen

❝

❞

To the world you may be one

person but toone person you may be the world!

TOMMY

Declan and Tommy were the best of pals! Sometimes some ‘bold boys’

on the street would mess with our garden gate by swinging on it or

even taking it off the hinges? One night this bold boy was Declan?? He took

the garden gate off and after ‘acting

the maggot’, TRIED to put it back on

its hinges! But it wouldn’t work, and

no matter what Declan did he could

not get the gate back in its place!

Declan got fed up and threw it into

the nearby field!

His conscience must have got the

better of him because the next

morning Owen looked out to see

Declan struggling with the

garden gate and eventually

getting it back in place.

Owen said to Tommy, “Ah

isn’t Declan great, somebody

must have taken the gate off

during the night and Declan

is putting it back on, he is

very good!

Now do you think Tommy

told him the truth? Well you

know now Owen!!

OWEN’S ORACLE | 7

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NORTH POLE 90.

NOTE: Though prone to vanishing we deliver everytime!

JOE

Idrove a motor bike in my early twenties and I don’t think dad approved.

Of course the day came when dad was at work and I had a ‘little’

accident and fell off the bike. I sat on the kerb as Christie told Kathleen

what had happened.

Kathleen told me to put the bike under the window and say nothing? Of

course she did not know about the awful pain that I had in my arm? So I

said nothing as the pain got worse and waited until dad left for work the

next day to have it sorted.

At the Mater Hospital I was told my arm was broken and that I needed a

plaster of paris. I was more concerned about ‘what dad would say’ than the

broken arm!

But I had no need to worry about ‘what he would say’, because once he

had heard it had happened the day before, he said nothing!

In fact he said nothing to me for three whole days! I don’t think I knew

which was worse; the silent treatment or the yell that I didn’t get!

Needless to say, I had learned my lesson and my ‘Harley Davidson’ days

came to an abrupt end!!

Joe, Tommy and Owen

Above: Declan and Tommy as youngsters and below:when they grew up??? Now that’s questionable!!

JOBS WANTED!Three ELVES and

an unemployed SANTA seek

employment for the summer months!

Anything considered!

KITTY DUFFY (Owen’s niece)

Kitty recalls staying in nanny O’Brien’s one day

when she was young girl. Owen and Lil were

going out together at that time. Kitty opened the

door leading into the hall where Owen and Lil

were standing.

Kitty asked: “what are they doing out there?”

She got a belt from nanny O’Brien and was told

to “shut the door and mind your own business!”

Little did she know that years later she would

be standing in their hall in Finglas doing the very

same thing!!

10 | OWEN’S ORACLE

In 1952, when I was about eight years old Lil, Owen and

myself went to Glasnevin one Sunday afternoon. I had one

shilling spending money. I can only think that we had gone

to Carmel’s grave, Lil’s little sister, who had passed away in

1948.

On the way back we stopped at a little sweet shop near the

Tolka Bridge. I was parched and asked Lil and Owen if I could

buy an ice lolly. Of course they said “yes”, and instead of me

just buying one, I bought three, one for each of us!

Lil and Owen’s faces were a picture when I handed them a

lolly each. They were mortified beyond words! Adults would

not be seen eating anything in the street in those days. So Lil

and Owen stood facing the shop window pretending to be

looking in at the wares and trying to lick the lollies so fast to

get rid of them!

We’ve had a laugh over the years when Lil would say: “Do

you remember Irene Dunne when you bought those ice pops

for us in Glasnevin”? Lil laughed many times especially telling

the story to nannie and pop.

HELEN SHAW (Owen’s niece)

Owen was always Rose’s little brother and she looked after him when

she could, extending her support and love particularly when Lil

became ill and

passed away. I

remember as a

child how very

difficult and sad

this was, and as

the years went on,

how brave and

resolute Owen

was in holding

everything

together. His

strong sense of

faith sustained

him particularly

when he also lost

Niamh.

Owen, for me is

brave, strong in terms of endurance, kind, gentle and warm. His spirit of

family love kept his family together and united and I have always

admired him for that.

ANNE DUNNE (Owen’s niece)

Iremember Lil, Owen, Joseph and Mary coming to ‘117’ on St. Stephen’s Day.

After tea, when they were getting ready to go home, they looked out to find

that it had snowed BIG TIME! It was too bad to travel so mam (Kay) got dad

(Tommy) to go upstairs and get a mattress!

Michael, Joseph, Mary and I settled to sleep on the mattress on the floor.

There was no sleep though as we spent the whole night singing ‘Are You Happy

in Your Nappy?’!!

I also remember that after every visit, Mam always said: “That Owen is a

gentleman, he always wears gloves, and that’s a good sign!”

IRENE KILBRIDE(Owen’s niece)

Our Leeds Correspondent!

Michael, Owen and Irene

It may not be funny by today’s standards but it was a hoot

back then. It was so lovely to see Lil and Owen walking along

in their own beautiful world on that sunny Sunday back in

1952 – another world away from today’s chaos.

My first meeting with Owen was at nannies with Lil. He was

always immaculately dressed and the hair ‘Brylcreamed’, and

his lovely smile and shiny shoes! He always called me ‘Ureen

Dunne’!!

I remember his first car, we all piled in for a spin and I

bragged to everyone that we had been to Dunsink

Observatory. I felt very learned and cultivated that day with

the feeling I had been all around the world in Owen O’Reilly’s

car!

Owen and Kitty

Anne, Irene and Owen

Helen and Owen

MAGICAL MEMORIES TO SHARE...

TARA (Owen’s other fantastic daughter-in-law!)

Hope you have a fantastic night dad. I want to take

this opportunity to thank you for welcoming me

into the family all those years ago. I couldn’t have

asked for a better father-in-law.

You are always so kind

and caring dad. I remember

when myself and Tommy

had Sean you became the

best ‘hands-on grandad’

ever! You were always there

when we needed a

babysitter; you would sit for

hours playing with Sean.

Even when Sean got older

you taught him how to play

draughts and you would sit for

hours together...I loved

watching you both.

You are always up for a laugh dad, even dressing up at Hallowe’en, that

was a ‘Class Act’!!

You are ‘One in a Million’ dad. We are all so lucky to have you.

Enjoy your night, love you so much, Tara (your favourite daughter-in-

law Ha! Ha! Only joking Tina)!

OWEN’S ORACLE | 11

TINA (Owen’s fantastic daughter-in-law!)

In 1984 I remember dad arriving down one

morning to collect me for work and walking

up the path with ‘Rupert the Bear’. Joe had been

on a holiday with the lads and brought it back,

but got his father to deliver it!! The bear was so

big you could hardly see dad behind him!!

I had my own chauffeur those days as dad

brought me to and from work. He would wait

in the carpark at Mountjoy Square in the

evenings for me. He

would just sit reading his

Evening Press until I

arrived.

I always remember

Mary’s 40th Birthday in

Paris. Dad sitting in Eoin’s

buggy and Joe took him

for a little spin! It was so

funny. Tara and I wet

ourselves laughing and

he was loving it.

If you don’t believe me,

I have the photos to

prove it!

ABOVE AND BELOW:The younger and older Sean playing draughts

with his grandad

Ananimated

birthdaygreetinggrandad

Love Seanxxx

LILY AND TRICIA (Owen’s friends)

Lily, Tricia and their families first met Owen at

Tina and Joe’s engagement party in 1984 and

have been friends with the O’Reillys ever since.

Lily remembers Owen as a gentleman having

great time for his family.

Tricia’s first impression of Owen that night was

that he was very friendly and very happy for Tina

and Joe. Turns out Tricia’s first impressions were

right!

We won’t go into the other stories from that

night...that’s for another day...but as Lily and

Tricia said: “Ask Tina!”

Do Lily, Tina and Tricia have a story to share –

Ask Tina??

Owen and Tina

Tara and Owen

Joe and Owen

Lily, Tina and Tricia

ALAN

Iremember being in grandad’s house when I was

about three. We used to tell a story about three

brothers called Mark, Alan and Take My Hat! The

story would end with ‘Take My Hat’ being the only

brother left.

I remember grandad wearing my little green cap,

and when I had finished telling the story I’d say:

“Who was left, who was left grandad?”

When he’d say: “Take my hat”, I’d snatch the hat

off his head! I remember he used to always pretend

to take a while to answer as if he was trying to

figure it out and I’d stand there eagerly waiting to

take the hat off him!!

These are great funny memories to have!

12 | OWEN’S ORACLE

MARK

Grandad used to play a game where he would shake your hand and

say: “Hello, my father works in the G.P._, and then squeeze your

hand to make you say ‘Oh’! But most of the time I think I said ‘Ahh’!

When I was younger I always thought granddad was very protective

of the pens he kept in his jacket pocket, and I was nervous to ask for

one if I was ever drawing or writing something! I wouldn’t think twice

about it now and grandad always twists the pen before he gives it to

you so it’s ready to go!

GERARD (Owen’s brother)

Did you know that Owen could be very stubborn as a child?? One

day his daddy was busy painting and asked Owen to “go to the

shops”. Owen said “no”? His daddy said, “What did you say” while giving

him a slap across the back of the neck! That was the day Owen went

to the shops with green striped paint on his neck and Gerard was told

to go with him!!

“Yes grandad...you should

have gone to SpecSavers!”

Alan, Owen and Mark

Alan, Owen and Mark

Owen and Eoin

Gerard and Owen

❝ ❞Get on your knees and thank

God you’re on your feet!

MAGICAL MEMORIES TO SHARE...

ANNA & LOUISE (Tom’s daughters)

Our dad Tom Daniel was Owen’s bowls buddy and church choir pal. They were

friends for many years and as our mam Frances played bowls too...the three

of them were often seen together. They also travelled to Lourdes for many years

as part of the Church Pilgrimage each August. They had many good times and

lots of laughs along the way.

When dad was in hospital they both had many chats. On one occasion he spoke

to Owen about the fact that his dentures

were becoming loose and he was finding

it difficult to eat and could not enjoy his

meals. Owen had the solution? He shared

his story and the next day brought in the

products that he used.

Owen proceeded to help dad apply the

solution and just for good measure applied

two coats! Owen and Mary left with Owen

apparently happy with his good deed...!!

The ‘cement’ had only settled when dad’s

mouth became uncomfortable. The only

solution was to remove the dentures! This

was the moment that dad admitted to muttering many things under his breath!

Many gadgets and appliances were used to prise away the dentures, until a crack

eventually appeared in Owen’s handiwork! All was well again.

Owen did not know how to react when dad told him the story and as dad could

not be serious for too long it was no length before both of them were having a

good laugh about the situation. Dad joked about not taking Owen’s advice again

but it didn’t stop Owen from giving ‘suggestions’ when needed.

We still remember these times with much fondness and always have a good

laugh ourselves at the ‘denture story’!

Thanks Owen!

OWEN’S ORACLE | 13

BETTY & DAVID TANSEY (Owen’s neighbours)

On a hot afternoon one

Summer I remember Owen

sitting out in the garden. David

was a young child at the time and

had gone to the shop for an ice

pop. On his return Kathleen

Keogh asked David for a lick of the

lolly but David refused...he was

keeping it all to himself!

Not to be put out by a rejection

from the young ones Kathleen

decided it was time to open the

champagne (as you do on a sunny

afternoon!).

Owen accepted the offer of a

glass and then another! Needless

to say ‘legless’ was not the word!

The story goes that maybe it was

just to test himself, that Owen

took the car for a spin around

Barry Park. But he quickly parked

it and went inside without saying

a word to either of us!

Betty remembers Kathleen

having many a laugh as they

recounted these memories over

the years!Back: Christopher, Jackie, Sharon and Eileen; middle: Niamh andfront: David...all having ‘High tea in China cups’...in the coalshed!

DOES IT SUIT??Find out at

LOUIS COPELAND’SCapel Street, Dublin

Tell them ‘Owen’ sent you!!!

Owen, Tom and Frances on the way to bowls

‘Graduating from theUniversity of Life with

First Class Honours’!

To Owen,

Have a wonderful night:

To do all you have achieved,

To turn out such a warm and

loving family;

You are an inspiration to us all.

Lots of love from

Kitty, Paddy & family xx

* * * * *Happy Birthday Owen,

Enjoy your special night from

Bernie John & family xxxx

* * * * *American greetings Owen

from Marie, Tommy and gang.

You were always good to us as

kids! Wishing you the very best of

birthdays, enjoy your night!!

* * * * *Happy 90th Birthday!

We know the road has been long,

with many unexpected twists and

turns, but we hope that the rest of

your journey is filled with

laughter, joy and sunshine.

Edel & Ger xxx

* * * * *

Happy 90th Birthday Owen!

Love Lorna & Terry X

* * * * *Wishing you a very Happy 90th

Birthday and good health

for the future.

From Tricia, Peter & family.

* * * * *To Dear Owen

Wishing you lots of love,

luck and laughter!

Have a great night.

Cheers! Love Lynda & Reg xxx

* * * * *Happy Birthday to ‘Nana’s

boyfriend!’

From David & Heather xx

* * * * *

To Owen

Wishing you a birthday full of

health and happiness,

Best Wishes

The Crowther Family

* * * * *Greetings from Down Under!

‘Have a great night Owen’

We will raise a glass for you!!

Lots of love and best wishes

Alan, Audrey, Laura & Robert

xxxx

* * * * *Have a great night Owen

Love Sally xx

* * * * *Here’s to a cheer on your 90th

Birthday Owen!

Best Wishes Tom & Brendan

* * * * *To Owen

Wishing you a very

Happy 90th Birthday,

Best Wishes from

Declan, Annette, Julieann,

Mark & John

* * * * *

Happy Birthday Owen

I am glad to know you as my

Uncle. Have a brilliant night.

Anne xx

* * * * *Happy Birthday Owen

Reaching the furthest

of all your siblings!!

Helen xx

* * * * *Happy 90th Dad

Love you lots - Like Maltesers!

Tina xx

* * * * *Enjoy your 90th Birthday!

Good health and happiness

Love Lily & family

& all the Ward Clan!

* * * * *Grandad

Wishing you a very

Happy 90th Birthday,

Have a great night!

Lots of love always,

Mark, Alan, Sean & Eoin

XXXXOOOO

* * * * *To Uncle Owen

Love and Best Wishes

on this very special day!

Rita, Brendan, John & Emma

xxxx

* * * * *Greetings and Birthday Wishes

from Noel & Angela

* * * * *Happy Birthday Owen,

Have a great night

From Anna & Louise xx

* * * * *Congratulations on reaching

this amazing milestone.

Happy 90th Birthday

Love always Carol x

* * * * *To Owen

Happy Birthday,

From

Betty & Family xxxxx

* * * * *

Where does time go in its endless flight?

Spring turns to fall and day to night,

And birthdays come and birthdays go,

And where they go we do not know...

But God, who planned our life on earth

And gave our minds and bodies birth,

And then enclosed a living soul

With Heaven as the spirit’s goal,

Has given man the gift of choice

To follow that small inner voice,

That speaks to us from year to year,

Reminding us we’ve naught to fear -

For birthdays are a stepping stone

To endless joys as yet unknown -

So fill each day with happy things,

And may your burdens all take wings

And fly away and leave behind

Great joy of heart and peace of mind...

For birthdays are a gateway to

An endless life of joy for you

If you but pray from day to day

That He will show you the truth and the way.

Birthday

BIRTHDAYS ARE A GIFT FROM GOD

“La Breithe Sona Duit”

a Owen

From Siobhan, Frank & Emer

xxx

* * * * *Cheers Owen!

Have a great Birthday,

Liam, Lorraine & Leanne

* * * * *

To Owen

Adam is offering to help

blow out the candles!!

Have a great night!

David, Susan, Dara & Adam

xxxx

* * * * *Best Wishes Uncle Owen

Lillian, Philip & families.

* * * * *Uncle Owen

You have been there all my life

and I thank God for you.

Have the most wonderful

birthday of all time surrounded by

all who love you!

God Bless You -

Our family Patriarch.

Irene & family in Leeds xx

* * * * *Best Wishes from

Tommy, Victoria & all the

Derwin family.

Have a great birthday xx

* * * * *Have a great night and a great

year ahead!

From Veronica, Vincent &

Niamh x

* * * * *

Happy Birthday Owen

We owe you that pint soon!

Wishing you a very

Happy Birthday and

a fantastic year ahead.

Love Cathie and Barbara xx

* * * * *Happy 90th Birthday Dad

Enjoy your night.

Love you so much

Tara xxx

* * * * *To Owen

Wishing you

a very Happy Birthday,

Have a great night!

Wanda, Alfie & Wanda

* * * * *Have a good one Owen!

From Willie, Edith, Marie &

David.

* * * * *Birthday Greetings from

Willie, Edith, Marie & David

* * * * *Thanks for selling us our first car

Owen!! Time to make more

memories!

Have a great night. You well

deserve it!

Love Brian, Susan & Gang xxx

* * * * *Happy Birthday Owen

From Christie & Family

* * * * *Birthday Wishes Owen

from Tina, Peter & all at No. 26

* * * * *Well Owen

It’s a long time since our

schooldays! Lots of changes

so we really must write that book!

You got there before

me anyway! God Bless You

on your special Birthday

From Seamus, Yvonne

& family

* * * * *Best wishes and Happy Birthday

from Maeve, Mary, Rosemary

OWEN’S ORACLE | 15

GreetingsOwen, The Harley is available…

at a price!! We can negotiate?

Liam & Fran!

* * * * *Happy 90th Owen

Best Wishes from

David, Linda & family xx

* * * * *To Owen

Congratulations on this

very special night,

Allen, Caroline & family.

* * * * *Happy Birthday to my

‘Adopted Dad’!

Best Wishes Owen

Love Sheila xxxx

* * * * *Wishing you a very

Happy 90th Birthday, Owen.

Hope you have a

fantastic day and night!

Bernard, Jeanette & Hannah.

* * * * *Sorry we cannot be there Owen,

Hope you have a great night.

Happy Birthday

Larry & Martha.

* * * * *Wishing you every blessing Owen

on this very special occasion!

Clare, Fergal & Family

* * * * *

Wishing you a very

Happy Birthday Owen

Mr and Mrs Gaffney

* * * * *To Owen, Happy Birthday

Hope you have lots of luck

in the lotto!

Gerard

* * * * *Best wishes and Happy Birthday

from Maeve, Mary, Rosemary

* * * * *Wishing you a very Happy

Birthday Owen!

* * * * *Best Wishes and Congratulations

Owen on this very special

Birthday

Danny, Tricia & Family

* * * * *Congratulations Owen!

Elsie, Pat & Family

* * * * *You are sure to have a great night,

Scouts promise!

Have a very Happy Birthday

Valerie & Greg

* * * * *Happy 90th Birthday Owen

from Eileen, Vincent & Family

* * * * *To dear Dad,

Congrats on reaching the big

‘Nine O’! Wishing you the very best

on this very special occasion.

Thanks for everything Dad

Lots of love always,

Joe, Mary, Ann & Tommy xxxx