THE LATE Annie Brennan (nee O'Hara) of the Irishtown will always be fondly remembered as a soft spoken quiet lady, a wonderful craftswoman and someone who had a wonderful sense of fun.

Annie passed away peacefully on October 13, in her 97th year, at Millhouse Nursing Home surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

She was born in 1913 in Glenfarne, Co. Leitrim to James and Mary O'Hara. She was the oldest of three boys and three girls, all of whom predeceased her.

Annie attended Manorhamilton Technical College, where she gained the skills necessary to become a solicitor's clerk. In her spare time she learned native crafts and the violin.

She met her husband, Stephen Brennan, a native of Milford, Co. Carlow, while he was teaching at Cullentra School near Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim.

They married in 1940 and three of the children - Mairead, Irene and Malachy - were born there.

In 1946 the family moved to Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow, where Stephen took up a teaching post. The second son, Seamus, was born during their time there.

In 1950, the family moved to New Ross where Stephen took up the post of Principal of Myler's Park National School. Having spent a short time living in Mary Street, the Brennan family moved to The Irishtown where their daughter Ann was born shortly thereafter. Their son Stephen followed in 1958. The family home still remains at 9 The Bungalows, Irishtown.

Sadly her children Mairead and Malachy tragically predeceased her, with Mairead's passing in January.

When one talks about Annie, the first thing everyone says is that she was a lady. Soft spoken, quiet in manner, ever watchful over the welfare of others, she was the heart of the family and powerful in its support.

Her stature was small but her strength and determination were mighty.

For her children and husband she was a rock of strength. Within the community, she was known to neighbours and friends as someone to go to if you needed a letter written, a form filled out, a lift somewhere in the car, or if you just needed someone with whom to talk over your troubles.

Another side of Annie was the woman quick to laugh, who had a wonderful sense of fun and a tremendous sense of the ridiculous. Some of the family's fondest memories of Annie are of all of them in peals of laughter over some silly thing that Annie had said or done. Such memories involve Annie and the rest with tears running down their cheeks and pains in their stomachs from all the laughter. The staffs at the Community Hospital and Millhouse all remarked on her wonderful, infectious smile and the hugs she gave so freely, whether they were needed or not. She made them smile as she did so many others.

When Annie came to New Ross, she joined the Maudlins Guild of the ICA. In 1957, along with other likeminded ladies, she founded Ballyanne ICA and became its first Secretary. She also held the post of President and Treasurer during her time with the ICA.

She was a very talented craftsperson, and her work in patchwork, rushwork and lumra won many awards. She represented the ICA at the Horse Show in the RDS on a number of occasions, and was interviewed by Michael Ryan while there. She was interviewed again for Nationwide and also appeared while spinning for the TV show 'Hands'.

Annie represented the ICA again at the Wellingtonbridge Ploughing Championships, and when Country Markets started up she became its first President. Since childhood she had been interested in crafts, and so she was very proud when she qualified as a craft teacher. She taught the crafts of spinning, dying wool, and lumrawork, all for which she had a particular fondness.

She was also a keen card player and attended many whist drives in Ballykelly Hall and the YMCA Hall and also taught whist.

Politics were very important to Annie, perhaps because she was a cousin of Sean McDermott, one of the leaders of the 1916 uprising. She always treasured her right to vote and never missed an opportunity to do so. She cast her last vote in June of 2009.

Throughout her life Annie was a staunch Catholic, a true believer. She trusted in God and offered her life's work to him. She has now gone to God in heaven, where we are sure she has been welcomed with open arms.

Annie is sadly missed by; her children Irene, Seamus, Ann and Stephen; her grandchildren Douglas, Christopher, Larry, Mandy, Heather, John, Dawn, Caroline and Cathy; her great grandchildren Mia, Israel, Emily, Isabella and Milarose; her nieces and cousins.

May she rest in peace.