‘Life is full of memories let them be good ones’
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A POPULAR and respected former Dublin Fire Brigade member is being remembered this week as a devoted family man and committed firefighter, after he passed away at age 75 on Tuesday, February 2.
Noel Monaghan grew up on Keeper Road in Drimnagh, where he developed a passion for football and played in the street leagues in Drimnagh and for St John Bosco FC, and even once had a trial for the Ireland team.
Noel Monaghan, respected former member of Dublin Fire Brigade
Noel left school at a young age, after completing his Primary Cert, and worked as a bike messenger in the city centre, and later in BaileyGibson on the South Circular Road.
He then joined Dublin Fire Brigade as a firefighter in 1971, setting in motion a career that he happily remained in for more than three decades, before retiring in 2009.
Shortly after he joined the fire service, Noel moved to Kilnamanagh in Tallaght with his wife Philomena, where they raised their family and where he lived for the rest of his life.
Noel worked in Rathmines Fire Station when he completed his training, and he went on to serve in Tallaght Fire Station from 1982 to 1992. He then served in Tara Street from 1992 up to his retirement, and he was well-liked by all of his colleagues in the fire service.
During his tenure, Noel attended numerous incidents, including the Noyek’s fire on Parnell Street in 1972, and, while working in Dublin Fire Brigade’s ambulance service, Noel attended to the late British Ambassador to Ireland, Christopher Thomas Ewart-Biggs, who was killed by the Provisional IRA.
After suffering a stroke in 1992, Noel was told he should walk more, and he heeded this advice – he regularly walked from his home in Kilnamanagh to Tara Street. He once walked as far as Glendalough and ran into the film crew from ‘Braveheart’ on the way.
Noel left an indelible mark on everyone he met, and he “loved to chat and would debate about everything in life,” remembered his son, Trevor, who followed in his father’s footsteps and serves as a firefighter in Tara Street Fire Station.
Trevor told The Echo: “Noel would often say, ‘Life is full of memories, let them be good ones’.
“He was really involved in the community, and played badminton and tennis at the old courts in Tamarisk.
“He was a great competitor and would play every game as if it was his last. He had a great eye for the ball and loved a game of table tennis, representing and winning for the Dublin Fire Brigade Table Tennis Team.
“He was involved in the summer projects, including trips to Clara Lara, and on summer days he’d bring gangs of us to the local park.”
Noel had an enduring love of music. He would often be heard singing in work and he sang in the gospel choir in St Kevin’s Church.
Trevor added: “Noel was a devoted family man, and a very proud member of Dublin Fire Brigade.
“I’m very proud and honoured to say he’s my dad, it’s been a privilege to have known him and loved him.
“I feel like there’s nothing I could say that could justify the man my dad was.
“As Noel lives on in all of our lives, we, as a family, look forward to hearing all of the great stories about him.”
Noel is sadly missed by his wife Phyllis, his sons and daughters Ken, Tanya, Trevor, Tracey, his brothers Kevin, Pete, Ciaran and Jeremiah, his sister Gerry, his grandchildren, his Dublin Fire Brigade colleagues, and his neighbours and friends.
Trevor added that Noel’s family wanted to extend their thanks to the staff of the Coronary Care Unit of Tallaght University Hospital, and his neighbour Dr Carla Hopper for caring for Noel in his final hours.
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