PERSONALLY, and professionally, the late Mick O’Sullivan distinguished himself by helping others.

And the bedrock for his 90-years of service was his family.

On the occasion of his 90th birthday, one of his daughters, Shelia, had the opportunity to try and encapsulate all that her dad was: a family man, a community policeman, and a man whose commitment to so many local organisations beggar’s belief.

Born at Reenascreena South on September 1st 1935, the second son to James O’Sullivan and Julia Prendiville, Michael claimed his birthplace, and it claimed him.

Having joined An Garda Siochana in 1956, Mick diligently served in many locations throughout the country, but he always knew he was coming home to Burgatia Road in Rosscarbery and his beloved Reenascreena.

He served in Balbriggan and Foxrock Cabinteely in Dublin, as well as Cobh, Bishopstown, Blarney, Union Quay and Bandon before moving to his final post in Clonakilty from where he retired from An Garda Siochana on August 31st 1995 after 39 years of dedicated service.

Mick found working on the clerical side of An Garda Siochana put him more on a par with people. It allowed him be of great service to the force, and he became the epitome of a community policeman.

‘Dad believed that if everyone stayed at home by the fire nothing would get done,’ said Shelia. He certainly was not a man to put his feet up in the evening and watch TV. After a day’s work, he spent most of his evenings working for the betterment of his community.

He was chairman of the Reenascreena Community Co-Op for eight years during which time that committee was responsible for installing one of the biggest private group water schemes in the country.

As chairman of the West Cork Disadvantaged Area Committee for many years, he worked closely with the West Cork IFA towards extending the Disadvantaged Area boundaries under EU regulations for the benefit of the many farming families in West Cork.

He served as vice-chairperson of Rosscarbery Community Council, which was responsible for the building of the playground and tennis courts.

He was the longest serving member of the Board of Management of Mount St Michael, as well as chairman of the organising committee for its centenary celebrations in 1994.

The name Mick O’Sullivan is still synonymous with Fear an Ti in Scor, not only in the Carbery region but throughout West Cork. He was also chairman of the West Cork Bowling Association for more than a decade.

As president of Carbery Rangers GAA Club, Mick was instrumental in the development of the GAA pitch in Ardagh as the main pitch for Carbery Rangers GAA Club.

As chairperson of Rosscarbery Social Housing, much-needed housing for older people was provided in Star Garden.

And, as the chairperson of Rosscarbery Fine Gael for many years, Mick was known to maximise the vote for the Fine Gael candidates at election time.

His contribution to the party over the years did not go unnoticed and former Taoiseach Enda Kenny thought to phone the family last week to offer his condolences.

Shelia gave a snapshot of her father’s early beginnings when she said: ‘It is hard for his grandchildren to comprehend that he went to school 11 months of the year without shoes.

‘That every child went to school with a bottle of cold milk and a cut of brown bread; that his mother made all his clothes; that they had no electricity and that the turf from the bog was their only form of heating.’

She said this upbringing, this understanding of the basic elements of life, is what allowed her father to meet everyone as an equal.

‘No matter what your background, rich or poor if you needed his help, he gave it,’ she said.

Side-by-side with Mick was a great woman, Mary Bridget Crowley from Cappanaboha, Leap, who passed away last spring.

The couple met at a dance in a hall in Reenascreena in 1959 and married in April 1962.

What followed was 63 years of marriage, blessed with seven adoring children: Sheila, Eileen, Mary Jo, Margaret, Patricia, Michael and Marcella.

Family members will attest that both had an incredible social conscience and inspired each other to always try and improve the world around them.

They were lifelong companions and best friends who literally changed the world around them for the better.