The late Tony Wiggins

There was a huge outpouring of grief in Mullingar on Monday, March 15, when residents of the town learned of the death of Tony (Herbert John) Wiggins, Austin Friars Street, Mullingar and late of Kilmacnevin, Ballynacargy.Tony, who was 67 years of age, died at his home after a long illness borne with great courage and dignity.He was born in Templemore, Co. Tipperary, where his father was stationed in the local branch of the National Irish Bank. He moved from there to Mallow in Co. Cork, and later to Kells, Co. Meath. He spent a number of years working on the family farm in Ballynacargy before finally settling in Mullingar in 1969.Tony had many and varied interests. He acquired his private pilot's licence at the airfield in Abbeyshrule in the early 1980s, and was a huge fan of the world of flying. He even communicated with a space shuttle as it orbited over Ireland in 1983, and received a certificate acknowledging this contact from the astronauts.He flew in the Antilles Air Boat captained by Charles Blair, husband of Maureen O'Hara, and missed a couple of opportunities to fly on Concorde, to his disappointment.Tony served as a scout leader with Mullingar Scouts from 1976 to 1986, and he was also involved in Mullingar Tennis Club, along with all his family. Other interests included fishing, shooting, CB and ham radio, and the odd game of golf. He loved walking, and would often be seen strolling along the canal line in Mullingar. In recent years, he discovered a talent for making walking sticks, and gave them as gifts to those friends who needed them.An exemplary businessman, Tony was a director of Concord Security Ltd., and Ansapage Ltd., both companies he helped to form. He was an ardent supporter of local services, and a great believer in civic duty, assisting Gardaí and making ambulance runs transporting patients and blood from Dublin to Mullingar and back, where he worked alongside his father-in-law, Sonny Dalton.Tony fought a long and valiant battle against a heart condition for eight years, and in his final years he benefited from the care of Dr. Cosgrove and his team at the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar.A highly respected character and family man, Tony always had a friendly word for everyone, and he will be remembered as a part of the fabric of Mullingar town.He is survived by his wife Frances, to whom he was married for 45 years; son Stephen (Wexford), daughters Sandra Collier (Mullingar), Paula Mulcahy (Collinstown) and Karen Kavanagh (Wicklow); daughter-in-law Sandra and sons-in-law Alan Collier, Damian Mulcahy and Tim Kavanagh; twelve adoring grandchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours, colleagues and friends.After reposing at Shaw's Funeral Home, Bishopsgate Street, Mullingar on Wednesday, March 17, Tony was removed to the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, where he was received by Rev. Fr. Colm Browne (CC, Mullingar) and Very Rev. Fr. Michael Walsh (PP, Collinstown-Fore).Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul took place on the following morning, Thursday, March 18 at the Cathedral, celebrated by Fr. Browne, who also officiated when Tony was laid to rest at Sonna Cemetery.In recognition of Tony's passion for flying, Abbeyshrule pilot David Bruton paid a fitting tribute to Tony with a flyover during the burial service at Sonna, despite inclement weather conditions. Tony's daughter Paula also delivered a very moving tribute to her father at the graveside.