People amazed by Tony’s creativity
By Aura McMenamin
A survivor of St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home passed away on Friday, with friends and family remembering the ‘creative’ history buff.
Anthony Whelan, known to friends and family as Tony, passed away suddenly in his Clondalkin home on Friday, January 5 at the age of 62.
He leaves behind wife Maureen, and children Wesley, Edward, Kelly and Darren, four brothers and four grandchildren, as well as extended family and friends.
His funeral took place on Wednesday at Newland’s Cross Temple.
Tony was born in St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home on the Navan Road, where he was adopted by a family living in Windy Arbour at the age of three.
David Kinsella, a fellow survivor from St Patrick’s said that Tony often visited his home for a weekly chat with other campaigners.
He said: “We met after Tony saw an article in The Echo about the home and was put in touch with me.
“Tony was a great man. He could put his hands to anything. I was constantly amazed by his creativity.”
Tony worked as a bus driver for London and Dublin Bus before retiring due to a disability in his 40s.
Tony’s son Wesley remembered his father’s deep interest in history: “He was mad into history. He always had a history book or film, particularly on World War II.”
Wesley also remembered how close Tony was to his four grandchildren. He said: “He was also very into his train set. He had a huge train set in the attic that he spent hours with. He loved showing it to the grand kids; he was very close to them.”
Like Mr Kinsella, St Theresa’s survivor Tony Kelly expressed disappointment that Tony passed without seeing compensation for survivors of mother and baby homes, with a final report from The Commission into Mother and Baby Homes due next February.
“[The government] is allowing survivors to pass away without getting any redress or justice,” he said.
