THESE are a snippet of the condolences received since Gus’s passing, a tribute to how he engaged with others and the world around him.
On Christmas Eve we were given his terminal diagnosis, which he immediately accepted with great courage and dignity.
His exact words were: “I am 84 years of age, I have done everything I wanted and more than most. If this is the way it’s to be, then so be it. I accept it”
When the doctors left the room, he asked me: “How long did they say I had?” My answer was, “I don’t want to watch you suffer or be in pain, so you just let go whenever you’re ready; it’s totally your choice.”
Always smiling
It was a pleasure to live with Gus and be around him. He was always smiling and good-humoured. In all our years together we never had a row; he had the great knack of bringing humour into a situation.
I remember one of my particularly hormonal days (I’m sure most of you husbands reading this know what I’m talking about) Gus said: “I think this might be a good day for a game of golf!” On his return, several hours later, two heads appeared around the kitchen door, with Gus looking down at our beloved dog and asking, “What do you think George, might we be safe to enter?”
Gus’s father Larry trained privately for Major Vigors, and Gus’s formative years were spent cantering his pony around Coolmore. His future was always going to be in the equestrian world. He rode as a jockey under both rules before retiring early through injury. The horse he had the greatest fondness for was Osberstown Squire, owned by the Lawlor family of Naas.
He did try stud work for a short while thereafter, but it lacked the excitement he desired. He took out a trainers’ licence, holding it for about 12 years before becoming an official with the Irish Turf Club. He held a starters’ licence, officiated as stewards’ secretary and worked in the veterinary box. At the end of a hard day’s work there was always a stop on the homeward journey with a colleague for a gin and lemon … no ice!
The world of nature was Gus’s world. It was incredible to see a wild pigeon allow Gus to stroke them, and robins come to rest in his hand. All animals and birds were at ease in his company, as were people.
Gus loved people. He was full of fun and devilment, forever playing tricks on neighbours and friends. He thoroughly enjoyed the ‘craic’, and a good sing song. We had many great nights amongst friends, a lot of them in Manor House Stud, Gilltown, singing and joking well into the early hours.
Experiences
Gus was up for anything. We didn’t buy him ‘things’ as presents, but rather ‘experiences’, whether it was racing cars around Mondello Park, skydiving, scuba diving, hot air ballooning, falconry and more. He did however welcome his Christmas slippers from his sister-in-law. Every November he would look down at his feet and say, “These are getting a bit shook. I wonder if Sally will buy me new ones this year?”
His children from his first marriage to Anne Flannigan, Lorcan, Michelle and Suzanne, are heartbroken at the loss of their dad, as are his grandchildren Sean, Dillon and Lauren.
I feel blessed and privileged to have been given the opportunity to share 25 years of my life with such a kind and loving man and to able to call him my husband and friend. I leave the final word to a friend who said, “My life is so much richer for having had Gus Fahy in it.”
A.P.
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