Íde Ní Thuama

On one of Íde’s visits to the USA in the late 1990’s she stayed with Tim and I in Berkeley California. She and I went on a walking tour of San Francisco starting at Coit Tower.

We saw the green parrots that are famous in San Francisco. We ate pastries at a cute bakery and dined at an Italian restaurant in North Beach. We walked through Chinatown. I was impressed with her energy and enthusiasm the entire day. We saw some little ivory figurines in a window in Chinatown and thought they were cute until we turned them over and saw something rather risqué on the other side.

We had a hearty laugh about this. It was one of many laughs. I shared with her. Tim and I also traveled to Ireland and spent a week traveling through Ireland with I’de. She dazzled us in Dingle speaking, Irish fluently to some of the residents. As we traveled, she shared her wealth of information about the history of Ireland. It was a wonderful trip and we had so much fun with

I love my husband stories of Íde living with his family in Australia and how she would say, “ would you like a hot cup of cocoa?” And her sweet, soft voice. And the stories for sprinkling them with holy water while she thought they were sleeping.

She blazed her own trail fearlessly and enjoyed life to the fullest on many of her world travels. She never forgot a St. Patrick’s Day, or an Easter card with a bit of Irish sprinkled in.

I will miss the twinkle in her eye and her mischievous smile.

Rest peacefully sweet Íde

Ide Ni Thuama

AMEN IDE NI THUAMA, Ide O'Tuama, Ide Twomey !
Dressed in plain, dark clothes, this wicked witch from Ireland flicked water at us boys from some kind of magic wand. So, this is dad's sister, I thought as I lay in bed trying to tame my terror. Why was she not speaking English...what was this babel ? Her silhouette was even darker as she stood at our bedroom door with the glow of the lighted hallway behind her. She finally ends the torment with a word I recognized, "AMEN !". The next day at the breakfast table, I met the brighter, lighter version of Auntie Ide and learned that she had just come over to Australia from the Vatican. In true "Ide Spirit",
the had taken the trouble to bring blessed holy water in a aspergillum especially made for the travelling tourist. AMEN IDE ! The foreign tongue turned out to be Latin with Ide's oft spoken "GOD BLESS YOU"..."DEUS BENEDICAT TIBI !" And that my cousins, siblings, wife and daughter is how I bid farewell to Auntie Ide: My right hand with a loaded and blessed aspergillum flicking holy water onto her sleeping corpus and, in my fantasy, making her proud with my fluent Latin with emphasis on her favorite phrase, GOD BLESS Auntie Ide, Deus Benedict.
AMEN IDE.
Tim Twomey (nephew)

The world is a darker place without you in it, Auntie Íde. I remember when I visited Dublin and you drove me and my friend (both a little hungover and queasy) on a grand tour in your little car, being very careful to avoid streets with ramps. You wanted very much for my trip to be a success and went as far as to give instructions to my (very confused) hostel desk manager in Temple Bar. I was sad that none of us from over here could make your service. We will hold you in our memories.

Sincere condolences to Íde's family, neighbours & friends.
She was always so kind and generous, sending thoughtful little gifts at Christmas, and in later years messages for Easter and St. Patrick's day. We have very fond memories of Íde and will miss her.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

Thank you for the many years of friendship and caring in the RIA. You will always be in my prayers. I will always remember the support you gave to my boys during their early careers in the Pro Cathedral.

Sincere sympathy to Íde's family. She was great fun and had an excellent sense of humour. Lovely memories from when we worked in the Academy. May she rest peacefully.

Our deepest condolences to Íde’s family and friends on her sad passing. Íde was Deputy Librarian at the Royal Irish Academy for many years and is fondly remembered by her colleagues and friends.
On behalf of the RIA Library,
Barbara

Our deepest Sympathy to Ìde's family & friends on her passing may her gentle soul Rest in Peace.
Prayers offered.
Denis, Mary (nee Twomey) & girls

My condolences to all Íde’s family. She was my mother Nora’s 1st cousin and she visited our home in Mourneabbey regularly. She was always very kind and she took great pride in her nieces and nephews. May she Rest in Peace.

Rest in Peace, Auntie Ide. You were always our conduit to family in Ireland--I fondly remember your descriptions of our Irish family during your transoceanic visits to Australia and the U.S. and your secret recollections of my father's youth. I remember the riddles that you used to puzzle us with, and the mischievous twinkle in your eye as we struggled to solve them. I'm going to miss your remembrances of special days and the Gaelic phrases that always accompanied them. The world is a lonelier place now that you're not in it.

Íde, you were the most kind, and thoughtful neighbour, always remembering birthdays, holidays and generous with your extraordinary knowledge of music and nature. Your beautiful cards were always so carefully chosen and the accompanying messages always brought a smile to us all. Your obvious love and pride in your family shone through in your conversations and we wish to pass on to them our sincerest condolences.

Josephine, Martin and Ellena.

We are all very saddened following Íde's passing. She was a wonderful aunt to us all throughout our childhood and continued to keep in touch ever since, always remembering birthdays, right up to very recently. Thankfully we will all be able to attend her funeral Mass, except Fergus (Boff to Íde) who is unfortunately unable to travel from Canada. Suaimhneas síoraí anam álainn.

A Íde,

Tá cuimhní luatha agam ar do chineáltas agus do fhlaithiúlacht. Go raibh míle maith agat as an áilleacht a bhaineann leis an dúlra a chur in aithne dom, agus as cabhrú le m’interés san ealaín agus sa dearadh a chothú. D’fhág sé rian buan orm gan dabht.

Ní dóigh liom go mbeidh an aistriúchán seo ar chaighdeán do chuid Gaeilge, ach tá súil agam nach bhfuil sé ró-olc.

Go mbeannaí Dia duit!

Brian óg

Very fond memories of Ide from the RIA - a lovely woman. Condolences to the family

Mo chomhbhrón libh ar fad. Sincerest sympathies to all of Ide's family on her recent passing. I have fond memories of Ide from when I worked in the Royal Irish Academy. Ide was a proud Cork woman with a great sense of humour. May Ide rest in peace.

My deepest sympathy to Barbara, and Íde’s other nieces and nephews on her passing. Íde was a sweet lady with a wonderful sense of humour, and was someone who never forgot to mark an occasion with either a text or a call, right up to the end. I will miss our friendship. May her gentle soul Rest In Peace.

Suaimhneas na bhFlaitheas d'anam dílis Íde, agus comhbhrón lena muintir go léir.

RIP Íde.
Lovely memories from years ago, of your kindness, chat & enthusiasm, on outings with the Dublin Naturalists’ Field Club

Dear Auntie Ide, we will all miss you. As Brian said, you were always so good at sending us messages for our birthdays, Christmas and St Patrick's Day. You were a wonderful godmother to me and it was you who introduced me to the world of opera. I still prize the teddy bear that you gave to me at my first Christmas.

Rest in peace.

Le gra o Cliona

Sincere sympathies to Ides family i used to meet her at the Rds Crafts Fair in Dublin she was very interested in my work and became a regular customer.

Deepest sympathies to all Ide's family and friends on her sad passing, she was a lovely lady , and very kind,with a great sense of humour . May she rest in peace.

You introduced me to so many delights in my youth - cappuccino and pizza included! And you never missed sending greetings to my siblings and me on our birthdays, at Christmas and, of course, on St. Patrick's Day. I will miss you, and cherish the memories of the times we spent together over the past 60 years.

Slán agus go n-éirí leat i síocháin.

Le grá ó Bhrian

Was very saddened and shocked to hear of Ide's passing. We only spoke at Easter. I've very fond memories of going to Íde's as a child and of her coming to our house. And when dad(Tom)passed away we kept in touch. She was a lovely lady with a great sense of humour and she'll be sorely missed . X RIP (aunt) Íde

May she rest in peace, a wonderful lady and great to have a conversation with when she would catch you at the gate, very articulate and full of knowledge of matters in the world, she will be sadly missed in St James Court.