Sadness at passing of former Mayo publican

HELEN Forde, who ran The Country Club in Hollybrook for a number of years, is being warmly remembered in south Mayo and beyond following news of her death.

A kind, beautiful and humorous lady, Helen had legions of friends and many are the happy memories of times spent with Helen and at The Country Club over the years.

Helen (née Conneelly), or Lower Salthill, Galway, and formerly of The Country Club (Forde's Pub) in Hollybrook, died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, in the care of the wonderful staff in the Bons Secours Hospital, Galway.

In online tributes on rip.ie. Helen is being remembered as 'a lovely lady, full of laughter and fun', with a bubbly personality, and someone who brought great joy to people's lives.

“I always enjoyed my visits to The Country Club. Helen was very kind and witty,” one former customer recalled.

“We had such laughs with her in The Country Club, Hollybrook. You will miss her greatly. She left a lot of joy in people's hearts,” said another.

She was beloved wife of Malachy Forde, and mother to Karen and Andrew. She is deeply mourned and very sadly missed by her heartbroken family, especially her six grandchildren whom she cherished dearly - Bodhi, Indie, Levi, Saoirse, Donnacha and Laoise.

Helen will lie in repose at the O'Flaherty Funeral Parlour, Munster Avenue, Galway, on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated for Helen on Monday on arrival at 11 a.m. at the Church of Christ the King, Salthill. A private cremation will follow.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.