This article is from page 12 of the 2014-08-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
TRIBUTES have been paid to the late Dr Frank Counihan, a man recalled as the “very essence of a good doctor”. Dr Counihan, who lived in t he Golf Links Road area of Ennis, died peacefully at home on August 5, surrounded by his loving family.
Dr Counihan (91) worked as a GP in Ennis for nearly 40 years, as well as in the former maternity section of Cahercalla Hospital. He was involved in a number of sporting and community organizations including the Samaritans and Lahinch Golf Club. At his funeral mass in Ennis Cathedral on Thursday, Fr Tom Hogan said Dr Counihan lived a full life, “a life that made a difference”.
Canon Bob Hanna, Rector of St Columba’s Church of Ireland described Dr Counihan as a “true renaissance man” who was generous to all people he met in Ennis.
“I look upon him honestly as one of great influences in my 20 year ministry here in the town”, Canon Hanna added. Dr Counihan’s daughter Caroline said her father was a man who lived life to the full in so many different ways. She continued, “He had a curious enquiring and always original mind. He loved to get to the bottom of things and his analysis of interesting questions was always swift clear and to the point. He was no intellectual snob or worldly academic but a humane and wise man”.
“He was very slow to judge anyone. He was a bit swifter to judge institutions who were uncaring or un-responsive. He felt that was absolutely out of order”, she said.
Caroline said her father “was the essence of a good doctor, someone whose presence alone was healing, calming and comforting”.
She continued, “The centre of Frank’s professional life was selfless, selfless and extraordinary unstinting service. He was tireless in attention to his patients and in this he was an inspiration to us and to others.
“He has asked us to express his apologies to the community for any mistakes he made. Frank had the highest standards of professional probity and it was allied to a great sense of inner spiritual and intellectual freedom and extraordinary positivity about life”.
He will be sadly missed by loving wife Mimi, daughters Caroline, Francesca, Rachel, Helen and Eve, son in law, grandchildren, sisters Mary, Honor and Ruth, brother Roger, nephew, nieces, relatives and a wide circle of friends.