The late 'Muggs' Mulligan: popular, fun, witty and warm

Popular, fun, witty and warm are words that describe the late Aidan (Muggs) Mulligan, who died on Thursday February 13 at the age of 60.

The word ‘sixty’ doesn’t fit with the man Aidan was, for if ever there was someone for whom the phrase forever young could have been invented, it was Aidan, who, with Delia Nally ran The Spiced Bean Café on Bishopsgate Street for 28 years.

A native of Mullingar, Aidan was son of the late Martin and Nancy. Like Muggs, his father was well-known in business circles: he was proprietor of a successful footwear store on Mount Street, and it was in that business that Aidan started his working life.

As was common in the 1980s, he emigrated for a spell, moving to London, and for some years, he ran a pub in Notting Hill.

Muggs was known for his love of music. He had an extensive record collection, and on his return to Mullingar, loved deejaying, as ‘Deejay Muggs’.

As it happened, he was also a gifted dancer, a talent he demonstrated to a high standard when he took part in a Chancin’ Irish Dancing charity fundraiser for the cancer charity LARCC, and a Mullingar Shamrocks Dancing with the Stars event.

At his funeral Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Monday last February 17, representing his love of music, an LP record and his Electric Picnic lanyard were among the items brought to the altar. Celebrant, Fr Norman Allred, made mention of the fact that Aidan could be found at any part of the Picnic, from the Silent Disco to the main area, where the headline acts performed, or to the stages where the new talent was debuting.

Muggs was a man of culture: he enjoyed reading, he enjoyed travel. He always had a novel on the go, anything from crime to psychological fiction. He did the Irish Times crossword daily. Another great passion was football and he was an avid Manchester City supporter.

"He stuffed lots of life into his six decades," Fr Allred told the congregation, going on to give a description of him: "Trustworthy and caring. In your corner. Safe to have at your back – no questioning; fearless. Discreet and understated in the way he helped."

He said he had also been a beloved uncle to his brother’s children.

Noting that towards the end, Aidan had battled illness, Fr Allred said that Aidan had simply trusted in God’s mercy and care, which then gave him the strength and grace to be compassionate, tender and brave in his illness.

"These gifts of grace to Aidan then inspired acceptance by those who loved him," he said, stating that Aidan had gone to his end with peace and calm, and prayerful sacramental confidence in God’s love.

Muggs Mulligan had a big personality: he drew people to him; and his family say they were greatly touched by the anecdotes and memories shared with them since his death; evidence of the affection with which he was regarded, and the esteem in which he was held. Muggs died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, under the care of the nurses and staff at the Palliative Care Unit, MRH Tullamore. Predeceased by his parents Martin and Nancy, he is survived by his brothers Gerry and Marty, sister Orla, nephews Ben, Gerry and Martin, niece Emma and brother-in-law Paul, and will be fondly remembered and missed also by Delia, his cousins and a wide circle of friends.

Following funeral Mass, Aidan’s remains were interred at Kilronan Cemetery.