This article is from page 70 of the 2009-10-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 70 JPG
MEMBERS of Shannon Town Coun- cil have expressed deep sadness at the passing of a woman who had a close connection with the town.
Jane Rice (right) was responsible for initiating a link between Shannon and New Jersey, back in 1996.
Jane, who was prominently in- volved with the New Jersey Emer- ald Society, died in New Jersey two weeks ago.
Retired Shannon ‘Town Clerk Tomas MacCormaic said that news of Jane’s death was met with sadness in Shannon. He recalled the link that had been set up by Jane.
“Shannon Town Council was rep- resented at every one of the Union County Parades each year; fourteen in all.
“Jane and (her husband) Jay ar- ranged each year to have the Shan- non representatives collected by lim- ousine at the airport and delivered to a reception by the President of the NJ Emerald Society. The limousine also took them back to the airport for departure, all compliments of the Emerald Society,” he said.
‘She was very special to those of us who met her,” he said.
“During the Shannon representa- tives stay in New Jersey, Jane and Jay escorted them to all formal events
and arranged for the mayor to be in- terviewed by television, radio and the print media. They delivered them to their hotel each night and collected them each morning for breakfast,” he added.
Jane was in good health when Mr Mac Cormaic and Councillor Geral- dine Lambert (representing the May- or, Councillor Gerry Flynn) visited New Jersey for the St Patrick’s day parade earlier this year. However, she took ill after Easter and passed away a fortnight ago.
The Emerald Society Pipe Band , 90 of who took part in the opening of the Rose of Tralee Parade this year and who spent several days in the im- mediate Shannon area, played at her funeral Mass and burial in the US.