IT WAS a poignant scene as family members shouldered the remains of a wonderful Kilkenny woman to her final resting place at Foulkstown Cemetery on Saturday.
A dull overcast sky matched the mood of an army of family, friends and former work colleagues of former Kilkenny People Newspaper employee Norah Flynn, friendly face and sweet telephone voice at the ‘People for 30 years.
There were tears for souvenirs as we said goodbye to a larger than life friend and workmate who had lost a brave battle with illness.
Rain threatened as Fr Kieran O’Shea led the funeral prayers but as it turned out the Man Above reserved His tears for later as Norah’s nearest and dearest grieved for a bubbly lady who for so many great years was a vital member of Team Kilkenny People that had won so many hearts and minds.
The former Norah Hennessy’s love for her front of house role was championed only by the special place she had in her heart for her loving husband Joe Flynn, Ian and Mark, the sons she was so proud of and grandson Teo who was her pride and joy.
In the company of great people like Marie McKee, formerly Marie Davis, Norah delighted in meeting customers and avid aficionados of the written word at the ‘People’s High Street office at a time when the newspaper was in the top three provincial newspapers in Ireland and reached average weekly sales of 20,000.
The local paper was then owned by the Keane family of Bishop’s Hill and was run by John Kerry Keane and his wife, Leonora.
The relationship between management and staff was one of respect and camaraderie.
Norah Flynn will always be remembered as a person who oozed that respect and encouraged the warmth that was a feature of a job that made the ‘People such a satisfying place in which to work.
I am so proud to have spent 38 years at what was to become an institution of communication thanks to Norah Flynn and a great team of fellow workers.
Norah passed away at her family home, Copper Coin, Furzehouse, Kilkenny.
She is survived by her husband Joe; sons Ian and Mark; brother Martin and sisters Joan and Marie Therese; daughters-in-law Veronica and Sally; grandson Teo; nieces and nephews.
