Joe O'Neill, class '45
In Memoriam
Joe O'Neill, 1943-44 SCT no.15
The Union was saddened to hear of the passing of Joe O'Neill, class '45.
The death has occurred of Joseph Staunton (Joe) O'NEILL
Mayo
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Of Kate's Cottage, Co. Mayo and late of Hamilton Lodge. Peacefully, in the wonderful compassionate care of the staff of St. Vincent's University Hospital.Much beloved husband of Joan, cherished Dad to William, Jane, Susan, Rory and Mark and their spouses and partners. Predeceased by his brothers Boldie, Dick and John and much loved brother of Francis, Anne, Danno, David, Winnie, Margaret and Vincent. Very special oupa to his grandchildren and great grandchild. Sadly missed by his extended family and wide circle of friends. Sincere thanks to Dr. Paul Nolan, nurse Trish Kelleher and all who cared for him over his protracted illnesses. May He Rest in Peace Removal on Thursday evening from Carnegie's Funeral Home, 19 The Crescent, Monkstown, to The Church of the Assumption, Booterstown Avenue, arriving at 6.45pm. Funeral on Friday, after 10am Mass, to Deansgrange Cemetery. Garden flowers only. Donations, if desired, to St. Vincent’s Hospital. |
Date Published: Tuesday 20th April 2010 Date of Death: Tuesday 20th April 2010
Joe attended the College from 1940-45 and was the eldest of eight brothers to do so, and so for twenty odd years the College Roll always had at least one O'Neill brother from Hamilton Lodge, Blackrock. Their father was MD at Johnston Mooney and O’Brien who at that time were managing the change over from horse driven deliveries to battery operated vans that were to became such a familiar and iconic part of Dublin streets.
Joe was sports mad and excelled at many sports whether it was swimming in the Blackrock Baths, sprinting or his life-long love of rugby. In College amongst other things he won the Irish under 18 100 yard sprint, an SCT cup medal as full back in 1943-44 and Leinster Interprovincial caps the following year in 1944-45. He was also regularly found on the Tennis and Swimming prize lists.
After leaving he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and thus began a lifelong career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in all its nascent forms – articled clerk with Craig Gardiner (subsequently subsumed into PWC many years later), then Cooper Brothers in the UK, Coopers and Lybrand in many postings abroad and then finally with PWC back in Ireland where he was partner in charge of recruitment, where rumour had it, that if you went to a certain college and also had rugby credentials, it helped greatly!
His love of rugby prevailed everywhere: Lansdowne cup winner in 1947-48, London Irish 1951-55, and a final Irish trial where he was up against the great Jack Kyle. He also played for and captained Uganda, but also played in Tanganyika, South Africa and Rhodesia where he met his South African wife Joan and from that a family of five children.
He and his young family lived in various parts of mainly East Africa between 1955-1971 and three boys, Willie ('72), Rory ('76) and Mark ('81) also all went to Castleknock. He came home in 1971 and lived in Stillorgan and then retired to his beloved Pontoon in Mayo for the fishing and fresh air from 1994 – 2010.
He was a natural people person and loved nothing more than talking to anyone, anywhere. He had friends everywhere and no more was this reflected by the size of his phone bill and the quantum’s of Xmas cards that arrived from all corners of the globe annually. He took time and effort to keep in contact with the large O’Neill family and was highly supportive to many where he could be.
Requiescat in Pace.