A life well lived: Jim Moore tribute night at Clarke’s Bar

The late Jim Moore's life will be celebrated at a special evening in Clarke's Bar on Saturday, August 3.

The event, which will feature an appearance by Jim's nephew Conor and will have Ray Dolan on MC duties, is being billed as “a night of celebration” of the life of a popular and well-known figure who passed away in December.

The night will also feature performances from a number of local musicians, including Ross Corroon and Martin Smith, while some of Jim's friends and colleagues from the worlds of business and sport will share their memories of a larger-than-life and highly respected member of the community who is missed by many. The main organiser of the event, which is also a fundraiser for Brain Tumour Ireland, is Jim's wife, Carole. Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Carole explained why the charity is so close to her family's hearts.

“Jim was always involved in doing things for charity and it was something he wanted to do, but we didn't expect him to be gone so soon.

“I knew him for over 40 years and he never even had a cold. He never had a headache or anything, but one day he collapsed on the floor with a seizure. He was taken to the hospital and we discovered that he had a mass on his brain, but the doctors didn't seem overly worried at that stage.

“He had surgery in Beaumont to remove it and came out of surgery as if he had a little sleep.

“We had no reason to believe it was anything sinister. We went back a week later and were told very bluntly that it was very bad and that he was terminally ill with a stage four brain tumour.

“We were told nothing could be done, but what they could offer Jim was some radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but on the understanding that it would only bide time.”

Jim was diagnosed on July 22, 2022, and passed away on December 3 last year, 17 months after his diagnosis.

“When he hit the year mark he was deemed a long-term survivor,” Carole said.

“Only 25 percent of patients survive more than 12 months.

“On average, 500 people a year are diagnosed with a brain tumour in Ireland and Brain Tumour Ireland is not funded by the government at all.

“It's all down to people raising money and from our perspective, if we could help one family to not go through what we have gone through and are going through, we'd be delighted.”

Jim passed away a few days before the birth of his and Carole's first grandchild, Clara, the daughter of their son Jonathon and his wife Natalie. Carole says that Clara is her family's “ray of sunshine” at this difficult time.

Tickets priced at €20 can be purchased from Carole (email: CaroleMoore2024@yahoo.com, phone: 089 277 3951).

“If people want to donate even two euros, that's fine, everything counts.

“We are just trying to help other people who may be going through what we went through,” Carole said.