End of an era with passing of businessman Joe McFarland

An Athlone furniture business which spanned almost three decades was fondly recalled at the funeral Mass for one of the town's best-loved businessmen, Joe McFarland, who passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday evening, January 14, at the age of 91.

A native of county Monaghan, Joe made his home in Athlone over 50 years ago and was fiercely proud of the adopted town in which he built up a very successful furniture business and reared his family of six.
A man who displayed a keen sense of business acumen from an early age, he left school at 15 and set up his first business while still in his teens! Having noticed that sugar was very scarce during World War 2, he sourced a substitute called saccharin and brought it over from France in bulk, advertising it in all the local and national papers, and it turned out to be a huge success. 
After a spell in Boston, the young businessman returned to Ireland and decided to set up a furniture factory in Athlone with his brothers, Paul and Felix. They chose Athlone as it was in the centre of Ireland and had a great rail network, so they were able to deliver furniture all over the country. 
At one stage it was estimated that practically every house in the environs of Athlone had at least one piece of McFarland Furniture and Joe's Funeral Mass was told that it was not uncommon for the McFarland family to notice that their TV or wardrobe would go missing because Joe had given it to a customer who needed it urgently!
With his beloved wife of over 60 years, Breege, at his side throughout his long life, Joe McFarland built up an extremely successful business, and when he sold the furniture factory on Excise Street, on the west side of Athlone, he opened up a furniture shop – called McFarland Furniture – at Fry Place, where the Left Bank Bistro now trades, before moving to the site of the old Adelphi Cinema on Gleeson Street when it came up for auction in 1979. Joe and his family worked in the Gleeson Street premises up until his retirement from the business in 2008.
Known to all and sundry as an extremely affable and popular man who had a great flair for business, Joe McFarland loved meeting and interacting with his customers, and after his retirement he went to Mass daily with his wife, Breege, and also enjoyed travelling and spending time with his seven grandchildren.
Having enjoyed good health right throughout his life, he was happiest when he was surrounded by family and friends at his home in Slí an Aifrinn, and he continued to enjoy a great relationship with the many people who found employment in McFarland Furniture over the years.
Community was very important to Joe McFarland, and one of the Prayers of the Faithful read at his Funeral Mass in St. Mary's Church on Friday January 17, which was celebrated by Fr. Declan Shannon, spoke of his pride in his adopted home town of Athlone. “God bless all who live and work here. May generosity and neighbourliness flourish in this place and may visitors experience hospitality and welcome here” it read.
The late Joe McFarland is survived by his wife, Breege, sons John, Tony and Ollie, daughters Mary, Paula and Lynda (Lowe & Co, Athlone), extended family and his many good neighbours and friends.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.