Late Annie Roberts was the backbone of Myshall community

Aged 73 when she died, Annie celebrated 50 years in business in Myshall back in September and was a much respected business woman in the area.

Born and reared in Myshall, she married Matthew Roberts from Kildavin in 1957 and three years later, the couple opened Roberts Bar and Shop in the village. Together, the couple had five children, Sean, PJ, Marty, Maurice and Gretta but Annie was still a young woman when her beloved Matthew passed away almost thirty years ago in 1981.

Still, she continued in her various roles in her busy life and carved a name for herself as being a great business woman. As a country publican, she often ended up as a social worker, a listener and a fixer as well as grocer and bar person. Being good with her hands, she thrived in the company of the ICA and was a wonderful cook, designer and seamstress.

Annie was so proud of where she came from and so was always looking out for ways to help the community.

She was supportive of all things to do with Myshall and, in particular, Naomh Eoin GFC and the Vintage Club. But she was the founder and instigator too of many other groups like the gardening and art clubs, Myshall Tidy Town and Carlow Rural Tourism. In fact, anything that would better the lives of people in the area, Annie Roberts was probably involved in it somewhere along the line.

Annie loved and was very proud of the Adelaide Memorial Church and was a loyal supporter of the Church of Ireland fundraising initiatives for it. She was also a very faithful parishioner in the Catholic community,

It was a testament to the esteem in which she was held that not even a snow storm and its resulting snow drifts could stop people from paying their respects to the Roberts family.

Indeed, they would like to thank sincerely the small army of men who on December 4 voluntary cleared Myshall's main road and footpaths of snow and ice, all the way to the church and beyond it to Lisconly cemetery. It was a deeply moving scene for family and friends to see Annie's six grandsons carry her coffin from her home that she established all those years ago to the church.

Annie is deeply missed by her children, her eight grandchildren, Mathew, Amy, Thomas, Mairaad, Brendan, Nicky, Barry and Niall, her brother, William Doyle, (Bealalaw), sister, Sally Murphy, (Kilbride), Aunt Mary Fenelon, (Shangarry), in-laws, family and friends.

Her month's mind Mass will be held on January 7 at 7.30 p.m. in Myshall church.