THE funeral will take place on Friday of Sally Blake, of 14 Ard O’Donnell, Letterkenny, a woman well-known for her accomplishments in her native town, and abroad for her international friendships.
Sally passed away on Tuesday in the care of the staff of Archview Lodge Nursing Home.
She would have been known by many as a Letterkenny “townie” knowing almost everything and everyone who shared her beloved home place.
She was also friends with many celebrities, not least Donegal’s own Daniel O’Donnell.
She travelled across the world to attend his concerts as his friend and one of his biggest fans.
Louis Walsh was also a regular confidante with Sally regularly sharing her advice with both.
The daughter of the late Michael (Micky) and Mollie (née Larkin), she began her working life in Kelly’s Hardware Store before moving to work for the ESB at their Port Road outlet where she served in a clerical role for 33 years.
Sally was a great community person, doing all that she could to showcase her home town.
She was a founding member of the very successful Letterkenny Folk Festival and served on Letterkenny Urban Council, having been elected for Fine Gael in 1967 and went on to serve two terms.
Local journalist Paddy Walsh captured a great image of Sally when he wrote “She’s as well known on the Letterkenny landscape as the Cathedral spire or at any rate that part and people of the Letterkenny of days gone by.
“And in some of the homes of the rich and famous, far beyond these waters, you could mention the name, Sally Blake, and be sure of a nod of familiarisation.”
She was the woman who found her Creeslough born friend and butler to Doris Duke, Bernard Lafferty dead in his luxury home in 1996.
Almost three years to the day after Doris Duke died bequeathing him her $1 billion plus fortune, Sally took part in a television programme about her friend’s life and death.
She listed among her many friends the rich and famous including violinist Yehudi Menuhin and artist Derek Hill.
In May 2016 Sally’s life over five decades was documented in an exhibition in the Regional Cultural Centre based on her comprehensive archives which was opened by former RTÉ chief Joe Mulholland.
Then RCC Manager Shaun Hannigan described the exhibition as almost biographical.
She will be fondly remembered in the Donegal News offices for the freshly baked and buttered pancakes she would bring on Shrove Tuesday for many years.
Sally will repose at her late residence today, Thursday, April 11 from 12 noon to 9pm.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated in St Eunan’s Cathedral tomorrow at 11am which can be viewed live at www.churchservices.tv/letterkenny followed by burial in Conwal Cemetery.
Sally is survived by her family, John, Michael, Alec (Kay) Limerick, nephews Michael (Mary) Leitrim, Paul (Emily) UK, nieces Breid (Australia), Marie (Rob) Limerick and Karen (Shane) Limerick, relatives, loyal visitors, neighbours and many friends.
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