Desmond Fay died in Dublin recently. His chronological age made him an octogenarian, but in outlook and physical well-being Desmond seemed a much younger man. He was the son of Willie Fay, one-time manager of the Abbey Theatre and co-founder of the Irish National Theatre Company in 1903 with Lady Gregory, W.B. Yeats and Frank Fay, Willie's brother. He married Mollie Daly from Limerick and they spent most of their married life in England and had a son, Fergus and a daughter, Finnabar (called after a daughter of Queen Maeve). Desmond served as a major in the London Irish Rifles during the second World War and was awarded the Military Cross with Bar (immediate awards).
They returned to Ireland in 1969 to help Fr McDyer of the Glencolmcille Co-operative Movement when he was engaged in bringing water to the area. The Fays were married for 56 years, and it was good to see how perfectly happy a union it was, right up to the end.
Desmond was very gifted with his hands: for example, he built a hovercraft in his garage. But it was as an animal lover that he is best remembered. In a newsletter of the Animal Rescue Group, with which he worked consistently, a resume was made of the hours he spent at night, after his ordinary day's work, in transporting to and from the vet the domestic pets of those unable to travel. It amounted to about six hours a week, all on a voluntary basis. Living in Raheny, he thought nothing of setting out for Foxrock, Inchicore or Santry to bring home a pup or kitten, even when he was well into his 70s and early 80s.
Anyone who ever met Desmond would agree they never saw a frown on his face, even in his last illness. He was a most pleasant, a most helpful and a most self-effacing man. Idir Dia is Naomh Phronnsias a anam dilis.
A.C.