That loss – and the endless love for Aidan that still endures – was evident this week as his family spoke movingly about a man remembered for his warmth, humour and the joy that he brought to everyone around him.
Nowhere was the raw grief more evident than in Aidan’s dad, Donal, who needed a moment to compose himself as he shed a few tears for his beloved son as he spoke about the pair’s adventures travelling together, journeys that brought them all over Europe together and to far-flung locations across the Atlantic such as Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls, to name but a few.
The popularity of the Tralee native, who was just 48-years-old when he died, was evident in the fantastic amount of money – €7k in total – that was raised for the Asthma Society of Ireland through a coffee morning in his memory back in December and which was organised by his former colleagues at The Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee where Aidan worked for 22 great years.
The cheque for €7k was presented at The Meadowlands on Wednesday morning to representatives from the Asthma Society of Ireland and it was here that Donal and Aidan’s sister, Aoife, both spoke to The Kerryman with Donal affectionately describing his late son as “a character” while Aoife said that Aidan was someone that brought joy and craic to wherever he went.
A poignant but proud moment at The Meadowlands Hotel as a cheque is presented to the Asthma Society of Ireland, with Peigí Ní Mhathúna, Jill Keegan and Siobhán Ní Mhathúna (The Meadowlands Hotel); Phaedra Vlahos (Asthma Society of Ireland); and Rita Crowley, Donal Crowley, Bríd Ní Mhathúna and Aoife Crowley with Ruby Prior. Photo by Mark O’Sullivan.
“We are so proud. It exceeded our expectations and I have to say that the management and the staff at The Meadowlands have just been incredible to us. They have been such a support and for them to come up with the idea of doing the coffee morning, we were incredibly moved,” said Aoife, adding “We’re so proud of how well it did.”
“He [Aidan] would just brighten up any room that he’d walk into. He had this booming laugh and he was just so fantastic. He was a wonderful brother and an amazing son to my mom and dad. He loved to travel and he and dad, they were the best of friends. Aidan was dad’s right-hand man, they were always going off to places together,” Aoife continued.
“Not a year would pass that they’d be off somewhere together. They made some incredible memories together, we all did. We look back on the good times and the happy times and I know that Aidan would be incredibly touched and moved seeing what his colleagues here have done in his memory and in aid of the Asthma Society of Ireland, he’d think it was absolutely fantastic,” she added.
The family of the late Aidan Crowley pictured outside the Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee on Wednesday morning: From l-r: Donal Crowley, Rita Crowley, Aoife Crowley, Ruby Prior and Donal Crowley. Photo by Mark O’Sullivan.
December’s event for Aidan was one that was met with an overwhelming show of support, drawing a large crowd that included management, colleagues, customers, as well as family and friends. The hotel management and the Crowley family extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the event; the kindness and goodwill shown will not be forgotten.
On the part of The Meadowlands team, they said that they were “honoured” and “incredibly proud” to have hosted the coffee morning and raised so much money. They added that the event allowed those who knew and worked with Aidan to come together in a place that meant so much to him, to remember his life while raising vital funds and awareness for such an important cause.
Posting on their social media, they paid tribute to their late colleague:
“Aidan will always be remembered for his kindness, warmth and gentle nature. He had a way of making everyone feel welcome, always greeting people with a bright smile and kind words. As his colleagues so beautifully said, “he had an undeniable brightness, always spreading laughter throughout the workplace with his humour and wit.”.