There is deep sadness in Mountmellick and the wider community this week following the passing of a beloved former Garda.
Jim Griffin of Davitt Road, Mountmellick, formerly of Ballynane, Annascaul, on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, passed away on Thursday, March 20, and was laid to rest on Monday, March 24.
Mr Griffin’s funeral took place in St Joseph’s Church, Mountmellick, with the service was presided over by Parish Parish Fr Mícheál Murphy.
Fr Murphy described Mr Griffin as a “hero,” and said he was “generous, well-respected, and admired,” with a reputation for being “fair, trustworthy, and upright.”
The Griffin family presented symbols of Jim’s life, which Fr Murphy said gave an “insight” into who Mr Griffin was a man.
First was a family photograph to symbolise the importance of family in Mr Griffin’s life.
Next was a Garda statuette, honouring Mr Griffin’s service to An Garda Síochána.
A Kerry GAA jersey and a copy of the Kerryman newspaper followed, representing Mr Griffin’s everlasting love for his native county.
Finally, the family brought a trowel and plane to symbise the joy Mr Griffin found in gardening and handy work.
Mr Griffin met his wife, Charlotte, in 1968 and together the couple moved to Mountmellick in 1971 where they reared their four children, John, Caroline, Anne and Claire.
The Griffin family paid tribute to Jim as a “good, dignified and kind husband, father, grandfather and colleague.”
Mr Griffin served as a Garda in Laois for 24 years until his retirement in 1995.
While he was mostly stationed in Mountmellick, Mr Griffin also served in Portlaoise and was also the last Garda to be stationed in Ballybrittas.
Despite living in Laois for almost 45 years, Mr Griffin was very much a Kerryman at heart, with Fr Murphy remarking that he not only kept his Kerry accent, but also kept the Kerry footballers in his prayers.
Following his retirement, Mr Griffin enjoyed his time as a doting and devoted Grandfather who will be greatly missed by all seven of his grandchildren, James, Lucy, Emma, Laoise, Tadhg, Jenna and John.
Following the funeral, Mr Griffin was laid to rest in St Joseph’s Cemetery, Mountmellick.
