Finbarr was educated at St. Joseph's Presentatin Brothers National School on the Mardyke in Cork City. He was a keen boxer and oarsman and participated in the regatta organized by the Riverside Boat Club in Cork
He joined the British Army to fight in WWII and served in North Africa and in the landings at Salerno. As a member of the Pioneer Corps. he saw most of the advance action as they made their way up through Italy.
He stayed in Britain after the war until his retirement from the Ford Co. in Dagenham. He lived in Dagenham for many years before he returned to Cork.
He died in Leopardstown Hospital among a few old soldiers like himself. I was with him the day he died and for many visits before that. He had said to me "I'll be home in Cork by the weekend". When I asked him whether the doctor knew this he said "The doctor will have little to say on the matter". He was, in fact, home and also home in Cork by that weekend.
He joined the British Army to fight in WWII and served in North Africa and in the landings at Salerno. As a member of the Pioneer Corps. he saw most of the advance action as they made their way up through Italy.
He stayed in Britain after the war until his retirement from the Ford Co. in Dagenham. He lived in Dagenham for many years before he returned to Cork.
He died in Leopardstown Hospital among a few old soldiers like himself. I was with him the day he died and for many visits before that. He had said to me "I'll be home in Cork by the weekend". When I asked him whether the doctor knew this he said "The doctor will have little to say on the matter". He was, in fact, home and also home in Cork by that weekend.