GEORGE AHERNE RIP

GEORGE AHERNE RIP
December 9th 1960 – January 5th 2012

And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln

The death took place on January 5 2012 in Changchun City, Jilin, China of George
Aherne, formerly of Old Kildimo, Co Limerick and Doolin, Co. Clare. George was a well
known member of the Aherne family, son of Mai and the late
Christy, father to Maura Rose and brother of Noel, Kevin and
Mairead. Georges life was one filled with positivity, spirit and
adventure and he touched everyone with his zest for life. He was
the ideal son, always loving, always respectful and willing to
help with the many projects that were underway in our house
over the course of the years.George was born in Carrickerry in
December 1960 and was Mai and Christy’s first born son. His
early education was spent in Ballyloughane and Ardagh,
followed by Kildimo National School where his family had
moved in 1970 when his father was appointed local creamery
manager.

Even at an early age, George has a huge interest in agriculture,
mechanics and the outdoors spending many hours working with
the local farmers and his father. From the age of four he spent
most summers at the Heffernan’s in the Old Mill and latterly saving hay with the Liston’s,
Nash’s and Mulqueens in Old Kildimo. George completed his secondary education at
Colaiste Mhuire in Askeaton and it was a natural progression that he went to University of
Limerick where he studied Electronic Engineering. George had a natural aptitude for
Electronics, electrics, mechanics and construction. When he graduated he worked for four
years for Varian in Limerick initially in an engineering role before being promoted to a
management position.

George always loved the outdoors and wanted to travel and immigrated to the US in
1986 and it was there that he discovered and developed a second career in construction.
George initially worked in San Francisco where he learned the trade of carpentry and
developed first hand knowledge of timber framed housing and the detailed joinery work
that was expected in the US. He had a great love of wood and was immensely creative in
solving any problem put in front of him. His ideas were never run of the mill and he was a
perfectionist, always trying to achieve the best result for whoever he was working for at the
time. He was always a very vocal exponent of timber frame housing even when that method

where he used his previous management experience and his practical carpentry skills.

George lived for a number of years in northern California where his daughter Maura was
born before returning home to Ireland when Christy passed away in 2001 when he settled
in Doolin, Co. Clare. George became part of the fabric of life in Doolin and he absolutely
loved the music and the craic, the lively debates in McGanns and the diversity of the
people he met, all of whom gave him a different perspective on what was going on in the
world. He was happiest in Doolin and it was there that he met with Teresa, his partner,
who completed the circle for him. Doolin loved George too and George would have been
delighted to see the huge numbers of people who came to his wake – the village will be a
little quieter, a little less controversial and a little less passionate without him.

George had many interests such as Travelling, Man United and horseracing but his
greatest interest was in politics and economics. He had a huge mind, one which was never
restricted by what he read in the papers or heard on the news. An average political
discussion with George would last a couple of hours and would end with all of the
protagonists saying goodbye to any of their previously held beliefs. The breadth and depth
of his knowledge of world affairs was quite extraordinary and he both entertained and
educated everyone he spoke politics and economics with.

Over the course of his life George was faced with a number of challenges. However there
was nothing that his courage, determination and conviction could not overcome and he
faced everything, including his illness, with marvellous positivity.

George began his final adventure a little more than 50 days ago, when he travelled to
Changchun in northern China for treatment for his illness. While he was there he made an
exceptional impact on the Jilin University Hospital care team so much so that he became
the topic of conversation over dinner each evening for the staff and their families. He made
friends easily and they will plant a tree at the hospital in his memory on March 12th which
is a lucky day in China.

George passed away on January 5th 2012, and remained positive to the end which sums ups
his personality and zest for life. His motto was and always be “Forward and Positive, Live
every day like it was your last, and don’t worry about the small stuff”

George’s months mind Mass will be celebrated in St Joseph’s Church Kildimo at 12.00 on
Sunday February 19 2012.

Compiled by his sister Mairead McKenna