May 2, 2021
by Emer Leahy
Angela was born on October 21, 1938, Angela Frances O'Rourke to Florence and Martin in Rosslare Harbour where she spent her childhood with her older sisters Molly and Berna and her younger brother Ronald.
She entered Nursing School in London, worked in Dublin where she met Joe Leahy and married in 1964 and had 2 children Emer and Kieran.
Shortly after Emer was born Angela and Joe moved to Kenya where over the next 4 years they experienced incredible adventures from wildlife safaris to interacting with Maasai tribes, learning Swahili, and experiencing all that the Indian Ocean and its beaches had to offer. After Kieran was born they made the decision to return to Ireland but she never lost her love of Africa visiting the country several more times.
Back in Ireland, Angela and Joe built a home on the side of the Little Sugar Loaf Mountain in Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow, one of the few places in Ireland that gets significant snow. In Kilmacanogue she was surrounded by nature and frequent teenaged guests.
Around 1980, Angela decided to start a coffee shop/deli business with her friend Cathy Brierly. The old post office on the main street of Enniskerry became available and they converted this to their requirements. Angela had an eye for interior decorating and was always on the hunt for a bargain. She found high end wallpaper and fabric adorned with poppies at a knockdown price and the coffee shop was aptly named "Poppies". Poppies is still in existence and booming, and pre-COVID had expanded to a second operation at the Dundrum Shopping Center. If you are ever in Enniskerry, stop into Poppies and think of Angela.
Angela loved travel visiting most of the major cities in Europe and the US. Paris, Rome, Vienna, New York, Washington DC, Boston, Niagra Falls, Toronto, LA, Christchurch, the Sonoran dessert in Arizona were just some of the destinations she enjoyed.
Despite all her jet setting, her home was Rosslare Harbour where she lived for the more than two decades. She lived a simple life and was happiest there close to the beach, surrounded by wonderful friends neighbors and family members who cared for her. Her home was filled with warmth and laughter and rarely did a day go by without someone (young or old) visiting. When COVID hit, she continued to see visitors though her bedroom window. And when there were no visitors, there was always Strawberry, her cat.
Angela had four grandchildren, Alexander, Jeremy, Conor, and Shauna, whom as her only grandaughter she shared a special bond. She loved seeing all of them and hearing all about their accomplishments. As she had done with her own children decades earlier, she encouraged them to be the best that they can be. While she couldn't see her grandchildren as often as she would have liked, she did get to see her grandnieces and nephews, Emer, David, Emma, Molly and Billy.
Angela was always so stylish, never a hair out of place. Before she fell ill she could be found walking on the beach at 6AM in full makeup with Jessie her chihuahua sporting a color coordinated outfit. She loved clothes and she wore them well with beauty and grace. She dressed countless friends and family members for weddings and other special occasions. She was extremely generous, often giving the clothes off her back (literally).
Angela had numerous health issues and suffered greatly for almost a decade. She spent months and months in hospitals in Dublin, Waterford, and Wexford, and there were many times when we thought she would not pull through; but her will to live was so strong and her courage unrelenting as she endured tremendous pain and disability.
Angela lived a rich life filled with unique experiences and friends and family who loved her. She put up a great fight for years and enjoyed her life to the fullest despite every obstacle in her path. She is deeply missed by all who knew her but never forgotten.
Please consider a donation in Angela's name to ISPCA or the RNLI, as these organizations were important to her.
She entered Nursing School in London, worked in Dublin where she met Joe Leahy and married in 1964 and had 2 children Emer and Kieran.
Shortly after Emer was born Angela and Joe moved to Kenya where over the next 4 years they experienced incredible adventures from wildlife safaris to interacting with Maasai tribes, learning Swahili, and experiencing all that the Indian Ocean and its beaches had to offer. After Kieran was born they made the decision to return to Ireland but she never lost her love of Africa visiting the country several more times.
Back in Ireland, Angela and Joe built a home on the side of the Little Sugar Loaf Mountain in Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow, one of the few places in Ireland that gets significant snow. In Kilmacanogue she was surrounded by nature and frequent teenaged guests.
Around 1980, Angela decided to start a coffee shop/deli business with her friend Cathy Brierly. The old post office on the main street of Enniskerry became available and they converted this to their requirements. Angela had an eye for interior decorating and was always on the hunt for a bargain. She found high end wallpaper and fabric adorned with poppies at a knockdown price and the coffee shop was aptly named "Poppies". Poppies is still in existence and booming, and pre-COVID had expanded to a second operation at the Dundrum Shopping Center. If you are ever in Enniskerry, stop into Poppies and think of Angela.
Angela loved travel visiting most of the major cities in Europe and the US. Paris, Rome, Vienna, New York, Washington DC, Boston, Niagra Falls, Toronto, LA, Christchurch, the Sonoran dessert in Arizona were just some of the destinations she enjoyed.
Despite all her jet setting, her home was Rosslare Harbour where she lived for the more than two decades. She lived a simple life and was happiest there close to the beach, surrounded by wonderful friends neighbors and family members who cared for her. Her home was filled with warmth and laughter and rarely did a day go by without someone (young or old) visiting. When COVID hit, she continued to see visitors though her bedroom window. And when there were no visitors, there was always Strawberry, her cat.
Angela had four grandchildren, Alexander, Jeremy, Conor, and Shauna, whom as her only grandaughter she shared a special bond. She loved seeing all of them and hearing all about their accomplishments. As she had done with her own children decades earlier, she encouraged them to be the best that they can be. While she couldn't see her grandchildren as often as she would have liked, she did get to see her grandnieces and nephews, Emer, David, Emma, Molly and Billy.
Angela was always so stylish, never a hair out of place. Before she fell ill she could be found walking on the beach at 6AM in full makeup with Jessie her chihuahua sporting a color coordinated outfit. She loved clothes and she wore them well with beauty and grace. She dressed countless friends and family members for weddings and other special occasions. She was extremely generous, often giving the clothes off her back (literally).
Angela had numerous health issues and suffered greatly for almost a decade. She spent months and months in hospitals in Dublin, Waterford, and Wexford, and there were many times when we thought she would not pull through; but her will to live was so strong and her courage unrelenting as she endured tremendous pain and disability.
Angela lived a rich life filled with unique experiences and friends and family who loved her. She put up a great fight for years and enjoyed her life to the fullest despite every obstacle in her path. She is deeply missed by all who knew her but never forgotten.
Please consider a donation in Angela's name to ISPCA or the RNLI, as these organizations were important to her.