Claire Curley – An Appreciation

The community of Moore, Culliagh and wider Ballinasloe has been reeling with the news that Claire Curley ( nee Guinan) – Accountant and Auditor has passed away at home on the 18th of April.

Claire had battled with a serious illness in recent years but no one really anticipated her untimely passing.

Educated in Scoil Mhuire – she went on to follow her passion for numeracy in studying accountancy . She qualified with Willie Staunton and Co in Athlone. She then did a number of years with Paddy Pendergast and finally she did two years  working in RBK Athlone. She moved on up the ranks there – undertaking a lot of professional certifications in the process.

She married her teenage sweetheart James Curley and in time became, mother to Jake, Ciaran & Aiveen.

Folks of her vintage who knew her well in her younger years will recall a lover of music, voice and movement - in many of her spare hours she could be found singing and dancing with the Ballinasloe Musical Society or involved with Live Performance theatre in Moore, Athlone and Town.

She starred in a great many of live shows, cabarets and performances in the Town Hall and elsewhere and was a marvellous disciplined performer on stage. Off stage at various awards, homecoming receptions and fundraising she was in every sense the life and soul of the party.

She even managed to coax a stage shy hubby into the Town Hall to help with sets and lights and swore some of her toddler babies could better sing the numbers that she would have to learn! She was a dedicated Committee member of the Ballinasloe Musical Society - serving as an Office holder for a number of seasons.

She was gentle, courteous, fun loving and generous to a fault. In her professional life she was helpful, thorough and had a huge attention to detail. She went over and beyond duty to any client. She established her own private accountancy and audit practice in the last decade and was the first Auditor to the Ballinasloe Town Hall Theatre CLG - guiding the financial prudent management of the early years of the company through Charity formation days . All her private and public clients will testify to her dedication and professionalism.

Few will remember her passion for sport of her pre marriage days apart from the usual Roscommon and Pearses supporting moments but when her children took up soccer and indeed camogie – she threw herself into the support of them on the field and Clubs that encouraged their talents with huge vigour and typical 100% commitment. Town AFC and Pearses Camogie Clubs were both blessed with her support and enthusiasm.

Claire was a very active member of those club through the years and always there to help out – whether it was trips to Halewood or Club Rossie All Ireland Final Preps.

In latter years as the cliff face she was facing grew taller and her own options for fun became limited she would light up with the retelling of exploits or just activities and key educational moments of her three chicks!

Claire will be missed by us all. Our community’s cultural and sporting fields have lost a huge enabler, participant and encourager. Our loss is a drop in the ocean to the void in her loving family - Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with James, Jake, Ciaran, Aiveen and all of the Curley & Guinan families at this very difficult time.