On behalf of the Regan family I would like to extend our sincere thank you to all who provided excellent care, comfort and expertise to Wilf in University Hospital Galway, Merlin Park and the Galway Hospice. The Regan family would also like to thank all those who provided excellent care and support for dad at home. We would also like to thank Very Rev. Tadhg Canon Quinn, PP Saint John the Apostle, Knocknacarra, who thought very highly of dad, which came across in his beautiful, heartfelt mass for Wilf; Willie and Cathriona of O’ Flaherty Funeral Directors who liaised sensitively with the Regan family in order to ensure a dignified funeral and burial for Wilf and musicians Seosamh Ó Flaithearta, Irene Guckian and Cormac Cannon who provided absolutely beautiful music at Wilf’s funeral mass - an element which was so important to dad. “Bis orat qui bene cantat” (Who sings well prays twice). We would also like to thank each and every one of those who reached out to the Regan family for their kind support, beautiful cards and words of comfort. A heartfelt thanks to all our neighbours who continue to offer comfort and support in these challenging times.
Tribute to Wilf
Where to start or what to include in such a full life as dad was fortunate to has lived. Luckily God's helping hand is always nearer than the door - and arrived in the form of tributes from Wilf's relations, colleagues and friends, wonderful words of solice and support - and the Regan family thank you all from our hearts - a few of which I will read out at the end to celebrate some of Wilf’s working life in Digital / Compact (which later became HP).
Family
I will recount a little of Wilf's background
Born just prior to world War 2 in 1938, in St. Helen's, Lancashire as it then was (now greater Manchester)
His dad Martin passed when he was two years old and his mam Lizzy was 'bad on her feet' as she put it due to a difficult birth, needing a stick and later a walker to aid her movement. Dad worked from such a young age, helping his mother Lizzy in any way he could to put food on the table and pay for rent. Running errands, chopping and bundling sticks, postal work and farming as his summer jobs and he loved the culture or comraderie of his work and the farming work in particular. By his own account he wasn't so much an academic, didn't have the leisure time for it, and was more a man of action - and yet valued education greatly and was a life long learner. Work wise, his mum wouldn't let him go down the pit (the coal mine) as it had claimed her husbands life. Wilf understood the family budget and cash flow from day one, and reckoned that he learnt economics as well as ergonomics (before the term was invented) from his mam Lizzy and also the value of a simple and elegant work flow, resourcefulness, a love of family, music and dance, creativity and an ability to envision a goal and pull himself toward it with tremendous focus.
His wider family, the Catholic Church, and the Irish community in St. Helens and Wigan were his bedrock and whom we are very grateful to. He served as an alter boy, he told of a story of a local man who used to come to the church every day and said such a simple prayer 'Hello God, this is Jimmy' and then off to work. Wilf valued this sort of authentic honesty, and ability to show up for God. His schooling in the Catholic Grammar School was hughly formative as was his night schooling in accountancy after he joined Pilkington Glass. Where he worked hard, quickly rose through the ranks, learned excellent business practices and developed a sartorial dress sense.
Socially he loved to gather with his cousins and friends be it for rugby league matches, or for céilí nights or house dances. Rugby league was very much the sport of choice, which he played at school. He also looked up to cousins and uncles who were and are passionate league supporters. Several of the Morans as ye know were talented players and scouts - it was a semi-professional sport in those days, which would have been a welcome supplement to players weekly income. He never lost this passion and followed all the games. Post retirement dad was fortunate to dedicate more time to meeting up with family and friends in the North of England - particularly going to the Wigan Warriors games where Ian Lenagan (his cousin and Chairman/Owner of Wigan Warriors) treated himself and Aine so wonderfully well; to Joe's annual 90th and many other family and friend gatherings. Himself and Áine thoroughly enjoyed two wonderful Rugby League Tours around Australia and New Zealand. Where they met and enjoyed the company of Steve O and many of the stars there.
One of his other great passions was Traditional Irish Music and dance and he was great friends with Jim and Mary Quirke whose home was a hotbed of traditional Irish music gatherings, as well as joining gathering in John Rooney's House. He traveled also with his pals Les Gannon, Tony O Hare, Kevin McHenry and his friends in the Liverpool Céilí Band - This took them to house dances in his dad Martin's home town of Ballaghadereen, to an t-oireachtas in Dublin, to Leo Rowsomes home, to Gormastown college and to Fleadheanna around Ireland and England. All of which he had very found memories of. On one occasion in he flew from Toronto where he was on assignment with Pilkington Glass (Pilks), to New York for the weekend where the Liverpool Céilí Band were playing - such was his zest for life, music and friendship. Of course like in most areas of life he had catholic tastes in music, enjoying most genre’s of music, be it a good ballad or a song from Joan Bias or some of the glorious music of Caruso or Gigli.
He was fortunate to go to a great All Ireland Fleadh Ceol in Listowel, Co. Kerry in 1970 where he took first prize - in that he met Áine at a dance there. They shared a wonderful precious 49 years of married life, were blessed with 4 children, and 12 lovely grandchildren. Wilf delighted in family life and encouraged family gatherings, meals out, holidays, passing on of his love for going to mass on a Sunday followed often by a 6 or a 10 mile walk around the back roads of Barna and Furbo walking, sometimes followed by calling into Charlie Lennon and Johnny Connolly (God rest him) in Hughes in Spidéal for a traditional music session, or The Old Quays or TÍ Neachtains years ago or the Crane and Tí Coili's up until fairly recently. He also passed on his love of sport, education, art, poetry and sharing insightful quotes. He kept a file of his favourite poetry and quotes at home and was often wont to quote in Latin or English to illustrate a point or provide further insight into a business concept.
He delighted in seeing us (his children) all thrive in these various areas and later his beloved grandkids sharing their art work, their music, ballet, drama, baking, and stories of hurling and football matches, tennis and badminton activities and schooling.
I couldn't possibly do justice to all of dad's working life memories in these few short words - and I will read out a small few of the many tributes that have poured in from his friends and work colleagues since his passing - all of whom he was extremely found of and held in great esteem.
Before I do - I’d like to recall some of the additional work that he did for the community
In terms of Community Wilf loved to help develop initiatives either through corporate sponsorship or offering his expertise these include The Cork Folk Festival - while working in Murphy’s Brewery, Cork.
Barbaro - Which now has an International Arts Festival for children. Dad helped with it’s inception and spearheaded funding through Digital
IDA - Wilf regularly gave of his time and expertise helping the IDA to create and sustain jobs in Galway and the West of Ireland and worked closely with Tom Hyland and many others in that capacity.
NUIG Foundation Board - along with Dr. Pat Fottrell (ex President of NUIG) John Coyle, Thomas McDonagh, Dr. Iognáid (Iggy) Ó Muircheartaigh (ex President of NUIG), John McNamara and many more.
and Wilf and Aine have many enjoyable memories from those times, one of which was the lauch of the NUIG Heuston Film School in L.A.
Wilf was also on the Board of Dúchas na Gaillimhe - or Galway Civic Trust as it was formerly known - which he was introduced to by his former collegue and friend Chris Coughlan (RIP).
Wilf was involved with developing the Park beside the Salthill Hotel - through Digital funding.
Later on Wilf was instrumental in making sure that the Park didn't get developed during the Celtic Tiger Times.
A tribute from dad’s good friend Marto Hoary follows:
Ronan,
I am a bit stuck for words here. It's nothing short of heartbreaking to learn that Wilf has passed away. When I think of all the good times we had they were never supposed to be memories, just looking forward to the next time. Irish music, aphorisms, stories and laughter maybe washed down with a libation or two. 'There's naught as quear as folk' (a Yorkshire saying that dad sometimes said)
In these times I can't be there to join the thousands who would want to say farewell. Such is the horror of the times we live in, especially poignant now.
Wilf was a strategist and a leader and the community is indebted to him. My heartfelt condolences to all of you and especially to Aine.
Sincerely
Marto Hoary
Then a tribute from Liam Ferrie
Hi,
I am sure you will all be greatly saddened to learn of the death of our former colleague Wilf Regan. Wilf was recruited as Materials Manager in the hardware manufacturing business in 1983 and later moved to Mervue as manager of the ESDC software business. He brought that unit up to Ballybrit to take over part of the plant when the hardware business was closing and remained with the company and its successors until his retirement.
Wilf was always recognised as a man of the highest integrity. He knew his own mind and was respected for that. Those who remained with Digital after the hardware closure must be particularly sad at his passing as there is no doubt that his single-mindedness played a large part in retaining so many jobs in Galway to this day.
I wish to offer my condolences to Wilf's wife Áine, their daughters Siobhan and Maeve, sons Rónán and Manus and the extended Regan family.
Best regards
Liam
And finally a tribute from Mike Quinn who worked closely with dad, who adapted a well known peice that dad loved, and ye are all familiar with called the Music Makers by Arthur O’Shaughnessy:
Wilf Regan - Rest in Peace
From the Music Makers by Arthur O’Shaughnessy
He was a true music lover
He was a dreamer and implementer of dreams
He was a mover and shaker
He believed in the power of teams
He taught us how to use numbers
And do things we could not before
In peace now this dreamer he slumbers
He kept the Corporate Wolf from our door.