On the Buses: Mum kept strong for us after dad passed away

A MAHON native praised his mother for holding the family together following the death of his beloved dad.

Adam Slattery’s mum Miriam paid tribute to her husband Denis shortly after his death in a 2016 edition of On The Buses.

This week, Adam felt it only right to pay tribute to his mother as well for her remarkable bravery over the last few years. He told their story on the 202 route linking Cork city to their home suburb of Mahon.

“Our dad passed away five years ago, but it feels like forever,” he said.

“He loved Christmas so that was a hard time for us. We went to see his favourite play, A Christmas Carol, together and there were more than a few tears shed. Mum is great. We mind her and she minds us. Our family has its ups and downs but we’re lucky to have each other.”

Adam, who is also a brother to Rachel and Kate, recalled his parents’ indelible bond.

“Mum and dad were very much in love. No matter what happened in life they never fell apart. They had the most wonderful sense of humour and thought it would be a great laugh to call my sister and I Adam and Eve. Throughout my childhood, I had people shouting ‘Adam! Where’s Eve?’

“I saw the funny side so never really got tired of it. Our house was named Eden in keeping with the names. The funny part was mum and dad weren’t particularly religious.”

Adam, said he is lucky to have such a great mum, adding: “We know she’ll always be there. There’s a lot of love in our family.”

Denis will always be remembered for his manners and impeccable dress sense.

“During his life, my dad was always described as a gent. No matter where he went he was impeccably dressed. In his role working for Telecom Eireann, he would be fixing wires dressed in a waistcoat.”

Adam said he will always be grateful to his father for instilling values in him.

“I like to think that we’re his legacy.”

Meanwhile, bus driver, Eddie Moynihan, who hails from Gurranabraher, was reeling back the years to more innocent times.

“We used to go down to Sunday’s Well behind the church and slog apples. One time the priest caught me. He told me that if it happened again he would turn me into pulp and not the apples.

“I was only nine at the time and didn’t know what pulp was. When I told my mum she replied: ‘I told you before not to be slogging apples!’ Secretly, I knew she found it funny.”

A swarm of deadly bees almost put an end to his slogging days... but not quite.

“I dropped the apples into a beehive and had to jump down from the tree and into a nearby river to avoid being stung all over.”

While there were many happy memories on the 202, there were equally heartbreaking ones.

Carrigaline local, Margaret Burns, remembered her daughter Sarah-Julie who was tragically stillborn.

“We think about her every day,” she said while travelling with her daughter Tracey.

Tracey came as a blessing for Margaret during a difficult time.

“I was overjoyed when Tracey came,” Margaret said.

She always told her children, Jonathan and Tracey, that they had a sister.

Tracey said: “I like to think that if Sarah-Julie was alive today she would be looking out for me.”

Meanwhile, Bernard Collins from Farranree talked about his greatest achievement in life.

“That would have to be my son, Darren,” he said.

“I can still remember him winning the All-Ireland in pitch and putt. I was working that day and he came into my workplace with the trophy. It was a big surprise.”

Lithuanian woman, Maria, who chose not to disclose her surname, is glad to have made her dream of coming to Ireland a reality.

“I really wanted to work in Apple. That was always my main goal.”