There is so much to say about Maura Crowley most of which has been said these past few days. "Character" is a widely abused term but is never out of context when Maura's name is mentioned. Maura had character in abundance and was a character in the truest meaning of the word. Maura was born in Clounkerrigeen Ballinacrriga Dunmanway in 1931 a fact that Maura rarely acknowledged - not her place of birth you understand - merely the date !! At a young age Maura commenced her working life in Jerry Nyhan’s pub in Boyle Square here in Clonakilty. During this time Maura lodged with Peter O’Neill who was married to Kitty a sister to Con Crowley. The rest as they was legendary. Con captured Maura’s heart for the next thirty years and she his. Maura returned to England with Con in 1961 where she worked in the “Railway Hotel” for the next twelve months. Her stay was meant to be longer but was curtailed by the death of her father in October 1962. in the interim Peter O’Neill working under Con and Maura’s instructions bought George Nugent’s public house in Mac Curtain Street Clonakilty , and so a legend was born. Con and Maura were a loving but nonetheless a practical couple. Con Paid for the house and bar, Maura bought the stock! And so 1n Christmas 1962 Con and Mauras Pub came into into being a fact that most of us were fully grateful of. The following February Con married Maura. surely a match made in Heaven. over the next few years as their business grew and prospered so did the family with the arrival of Marie Geraldine and Conor. Unfortunately in 1989 Con was drawn at a young age to his Maker. And for the first time Maura was truly bothered, her beloved Con was gone and much of her reason for living was gone. In this her truly hour of need her family stepped up to the plate and with the able assistance Conor took over the running of the pub, aided and assisted by Marie and Geraldine. The good ship “Con and Mauras” was back sailing a steady course and so for the first tine in her life, Maura took a back step. Soon she became a diplomat not just for the pub but for the whole of Clonakilty...her beloved Clonakilty!! Maura's faith was always very strong, her ethos was quite simple love your God and your neighbours in equal abundance. Whilst always respecting the church laws Mauras natural and enlightened views became more tolerant as she got older. Maura accepted that not everyone could live their lives to the same high standard that she set for herself. As mentioned earlier Maura was an outstanding diplomat for Clonakilty and that is reflected today in the huge distances from the four corners of Ireland from England and Germany that people have travelled to pay their respects. Maura never believed in dividing people into class, age, race or gender as reflected by the huge mix of people here today. But she did have one differential between people, there were Fine Gael people and there was “The Others”. When recently photographed with a Fine Fail Minister and published in the Southern star Maura gave the next month assuring everyone she hadn’t changed her colours. And yet in that she had friends in every political party and in none. Over the past few days there have been claims that Maura had favourite customers and friends calling to her. But have no doubt in recent years Mauras heart had been captured once more with the birth of her grandchildren Annie and Tom a mere mention of either or both names was sufficient for Maura to smile if not to laugh. They brought her joy unparalleled. And so today we gather here to pay our respects to Maura and to say our final farewells comforted in the knowledge that Maura packed in to her life more joy than most people will ever hope to experience. Console ourselves too that she now joins her greatest love her Darling Con. Maura must have had faults, I think none of us can remember to many of them. We remember Maura for being a friend and being friendly. For laughing and making us laugh We remember her “Mind my leg” and “I’ll just have one taste” when being offered anything from a crisp to a sweet to a slice of cake. No more of closing time will we here “Come on lads it’s time for sex go home Ye’ve had enough “. No more too will we hear the gentle lilting of the "isles of Innisfree" as Maura sang "Some folks say that I'm a dreamer" This morning Mauras sister Ann received a phone call from Joe Mc Carthy a childhood friend of Mauras who is currently in England and he described Maura probably best of all, Maura Crowley the Queen of Clonakilty. And so Slan Go Foil, we loved you as you loved us Maura Crowley Nee Keohane, today we are reminded when Oscar Wilde said of Michael Collins on his death. “Throw away your mourning throw away your dark clothes, hang out your brightest banner we mourn your passing but we rejoice in your life.” Thank you God for giving us Maura.