Larry Whelan loved being in business and being surrounded by family
The death occurred recently of Saltmills caravan park owner, concrete businessman and devoted family man Laurence (Larry) Whelan.
Larry died aged 81 on February 23 in the love and care of his family and staff at Blackrock Clinic.
The loving husband of Anne, Larry is also survived by his children Jennifer, Maria, Lucy, Lorna and Bernard and siblings Sean, Francis, Teddy, Noel and Joe.
He was predeceased by his brother Liam and sister Ena.
Born in Booley, Yoletown, in 1941 – one of ten children to Larry and Lilly Whelan – Larry Jnr met the love of his life, Anne, at a dance one night when he was 19.
They had a long and happy marriage and would have been celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this October. Together they worked hard, beginning with setting up Ocean Island Caravan Park, a business both embraced with great passion.
“Through working hard they built a great life together. They made a great team; one complimented the other; in fact you rarely saw one without the other,” Larry's daughter Maria recalled at his funeral mass at St Aidan's Church, Poulfur which was celebrated by Monsignor Joe McGrath, a former parish priest in the area.
Maria recalled how Larry loved chatting with people.
"He was always up for a chat, if you could get a word in! You certainly might not get the last word in as we all know the only way was the Larry way.”
He was a member of the Hook tourism association. In his spare time he enjoyed watching hurling and football matches and horse acing, while cars and tractors were a common source of chat.
She recalled a man who helped others at every opportunity.
"He would do any job for anyone who asked him – often at the drop of a hat, and sometimes before he would do things for himself. He was always there for us and he supported all of us in every possible way that he could, both himself and Mammy."
Larry started a precast concrete business 50 years ago, employing his father and brother and other family members over the years; something he was very proud of.
Larry took great joy in seeing his eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren reach their milestones and hearing updates about their busy lives, including in the GAA.
He loved to travel and was never happier than on a family holiday.
Larry also enjoyed many lovely holidays with Anne, Cyprus being their favourite holiday destination.
He had a great sense of humour and was always up for a laugh.
"Nothing made him happier than being surrounded by family, which normally involved food and of course the cup of tea.”
He loved running the caravan park, which he developed with Anne over 45 years, welcoming repeat customers from Dublin, but also from as nearby as New Ross from April till the end of September each year
He and Anne had facilities for tent camping, running it as a family business.
Larry is sadly missed by his loving wife, son, daughters, son-in-law Derek, daughter-in-law Nicola, grandchildren Carrie and her husband Paddy, Ellie, Casey, Gavin, Jamie, Ryan, Dylan and Alex, great grandchildren Corey and Harley, brothers, extended family and friends.
Larry was laid to rest afterwards in the new cemetery, Poulfur.
May he rest in peace.