The death has occurred of Michael John Cummins of
Cricklewood, London and formerly of Castlemarket in the Parish of Ballyragget, County Kilkenny.
Michael John, Mora Road, Cricklewood was formerly of Castlemarket, Attanagh, Portlaoise, County Laois and Lowhill, Attanagh, Kilkenny, his beloved home place.
A loving husband, dad, grandad, brother, son, uncle and dear friend, he died peacefully on November 17, 2024.
He was predeceased by his parents John and Ellen (née Nolan) Cummins, brother Laurence, sisters Mary Kane, Ballinalacken, Ballyragget, Eileen Conway, Kilwarden, Kill and Julia Manning, Knocknew, Ballyfoyle.
His nephews were Martin Kane, Ballinalacken, Ballyragget and Gerard Cummins, London and his niece was Frances McGuinness Hennessy, Friary Street, Kilkenny City and The Commons, Gowran.
It was always a joy to be in John’s company. A great Kilkenny man he loved all things hurling, music, family and friends. Happiness was his main aim and motto of life.
One of 11 children of which he was the sixth, the third child to be born in Lowhill on September 1, 1938 following the family’s return to Ireland from New York in July of 1934.
The family moved to Castlemarket just before Easter in 1941.
John was affectionately known as Jack to his family and Jackie to locals.
His primary education was in Ballyouskill National School followed by the Christian Brothers Secondary School in Abbleyleix.
John then moved on from school to begin an apprenticeship in what was then the Creamery in Ballyragget.
He loved music and was a great accordion player. The Cummins children music self-education began with John’s eldest brother Laurence making music on a comb with a piece of paper.
The next year it was the mouth organ. Kieran and John played accordion. Kieran was first to learn to play, John was next, both were self-taught.
John Cummins was given an old melodeon by a gentleman called Martin Bergin who he worked with Ballyragget Creamery.
It was a battered old musical instrument held together with sellotape.
Jack Fogarty, a neighbour, on a visit to Castlemarket commented, on seeing the musical instrument, “the melodeon could do with an over coat there are so many holes in it”.
John was not to be dissuaded. He persevered. The boys asked their mother Ellen Cummins to buy them an accordion, but not convinced that this would be money well spent, she declined.
John decided to invest and purchased a button accordion from Cotts of Kilcotts. It cost 12 Irish punt, bought on the never, never. He paid it off at half a crown a week.
The accordion still survives to this day. He invested in a new accordion and gave his first accordion to Mrs Holohan as a gift.
Mrs Holohan was the lady he boarded with in Tullamore, where he worked from 1958 to 1960.
She bequeathed the accordion to her niece Mary Cassin, who still has it. After emigrating to London he and his brother Kieran played their accordions doing gigs in the pubs of London.
John emigrated to London in 1960 where he worked in the construction industry for most of his working life.
London was where he met and married his magnificent wife and friend for life May Ward, a native of Mohill, County Leitrim, on March 11th 1967.
Together they had their two wonderful children Colette and David and their six grandchildren: Hayley, Jordan, Ethan, Kyle, Brogan and Shai.
John and May loved dancing and together were a sight to behold on the dance floor.
John is sadly missed by his loving wife May, daughter Colette, son David and grandchildren Hayley, Jordan, Shea, Ethan, Brogan and Kyle.
He is also survived by daughter-in-law, Karen Cummins and son-in-law Philip Bergin. He leaves behind brothers: Kieran and Joe, London and sisters Teresa McGuinness, Kilkenny City, Kathleen Gallagher, Ann O’Connor and Cecilia O’Donnell, all London.
He was loved too by brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family and many friends from Ireland and the UK, particularly his lifelong friend Jimmy Willis from Cork.
John’s wake will be held on Monday, December 9, 10am-4pm, at John Nodes Funeral Directors in Cricklewood.
Requiem Mass will be on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at the Catholic Church of St Agnes, 35 Cricklewood Lane, London NW2 1HR, UK at 11am followed by burial at Hendon Cemetery.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. Inár gcroíthe go deo.
