'He died with his boots on': Warm tributes paid to Seán Quilty

Seán Quilty, a high-ranking Army officer in Athlone who went on to make significant contributions to the local community in a range of voluntary roles, was remembered with great fondness at his funeral service last week.

The Retreat Park resident died peacefully, at the age of 84, on Sunday, March 3. Large crowds turned out to pay tribute to him at his removal last Wednesday evening and his funeral Mass, in the Franciscan Friary, on Thursday.

Seán was a retired Colonel who served as Officer Commanding at Custume Barracks in the late 1980s and early 90s.

Following his retirement from the Army in 1999, he became an active volunteer who was associated with the Athlone Community Services Council, Athlone Probus, Old Athlone Society, Athlone Credit Union, the Knights of St Columbanus, Esker House Women's Refuge and Athlone Golf Club.

Fr Padraig Kelliher, the chief celebrant at the funeral Mass on Thursday last, explained that Seán "was originally from Croom, in county Limerick, but became a big figure here in our own town of Athlone.

"There is a phrase, 'He died with his boots on'. And Seán did that," said Fr Padraig.

"There are people in their 20s who aren't doing a quarter of what Seán Quilty was doing in his 70s and 80s."

The priest added that Séan was a man of faith, a regular attendee at morning Mass, and a person to whom family, place and sport were hugely important.

Francis Quilty, the youngest of Séan and Connie Quilty's six children, said his Dad was "known in many different ways to many different people. He had a lot of strings to his bow. He made friends wherever he went."

Seán enlisted as a cadet in the Army in 1958 and his first overseas role with the United Nations was in the Congo in 1962. Three years later, he travelled to India and Pakistan to help resolve conflicts in the Kashmir and Punjab regions.

In 1988 and 1989 he had another significant spell overseas, travelling to Afghanistan as a military observer to oversee the withdrawal of the Soviet Union in what proved to be another successful mission.

Séan "revelled in all family achievements," and would be especially proud if he saw a mention of sporting or academic prowess from his children or grandchildren in local or national newspapers.

Francis said his father "always liked to be surrounded by people" and entered a busy phase of his life in retirement when he took on voluntary roles with local organisations

"He really did thrive in this environment, where he could combine his organisational skills with his personable skills."

Francis added that his father loved sport. He won county championships and represented Limerick in both hurling and football, before turning to golf when his GAA career ended.

"Dad's loyalty to Limerick hurling, Munster rugby and Irish rugby eventually paid dividends in recent years," he said. "The current Irish rugby team and current Limerick hurling team have certainly sent him out on a high."

Among the organisations also paying tributes to Seán Quilty in the last week were the Irish United Nations Veterans Association and soccer clubs Bealnamulla LFC and Temple Villa AFC, with whom his sons John and Conor are involved.

Séan is sadly missed by his loving wife Connie, daughter Deirdre, sons John, Michael, Conor, Brian and Francis, brothers Donie, Bobby, Patsy, Tom and Martin, sisters Shelagh and Carmel, grandchildren David, Luke, Jack, Gavin, Anna, Trudy, Sarah, Faye, Ciara and Dara, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, in-laws, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and many friends.

Following his funeral Mass, burial took place in Coosan cemetery.

May he rest in peace.