By Paul Murphy
For someone who had migrated from the banks of the Lee to the banks of the Boyne many decades ago Phil Conyngham who died on Monday (6th) at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital could be described as an honorary Droghedean along with her late husband Brian because of the amount of voluntary work they both contributed to community life in the town. Since her death just 24 hours ago tributes have poured in from the Mayor of Drogheda Cllr Michelle Hall, and leaders of local organisations.
Born Phil Deeney 89 years ago she came from Friars Walk in Cork city centre and was educated at the Presentation Convent School in the city. When she left school she followed in the footsteps of many young women of that period, completing a secretarial course and that led to employment for her at the Automobile Association in Cork. She and other young women trailblazed in gaining employment in the Council of Europe secretariat.
On holiday breaks she and friends travelled widely throughout Europe. It was on one of those breaks that she met a handsome young journalist, Brian Conyngham, who was born in Pretoria and who had just hitchhiked up the East coast of Africa, landed in Egypt and travelled over to the Greek island of Mykonos. A chance meeting on the beach ended in romance and they became a couple from that moment until Brian’s death in 2020.
They married in Ireland and then lived in London, Brian working as a journalist at the Romford Times (closing in 1968 but rebranded as part of Express Newspapers) and Phil employed as a copytaker (mainly women who typed out phoned in news copy from (mainly male) journalists from all over the world, with the Press Association. A standing joke in the office was when the news editor would say
“let Mrs Conyngham take that call, she’s got a funny accent, and she’ll understand all those funny accents”. Pana meets Swahili!
Brian made another career change when he became the Derry correspondent for the Belfast Telegraph. It was during his three years there that the Civil Rights Association was born. While he found the work interesting he found the city depressing at that time and was delighted when he was offered the editorship of the Drogheda Independent. Their move to the Boyneside suited Phil very well because it was her earnest desire to “move South”, not in the political but geographical sense. Drogheda was as near as she could get to her beloved Cork.
On arrival they planked themselves as near to the Boyne as anyone could get, at Trinity Street,
renting a house from auctioneer the late Aidan Robinson. Later they moved to Brookville.
They immediately threw themselves into the community life of Drogheda, Brian as editor of the DI and a strong member of Junior Chamber, Phil working as a secretary at St Mary’s Diocesan School (27 years) and active in the local musical society. They were outstanding for their commitment to voluntary work. It was said of her that she was “a serial joiner and a serial organiser”. She once said “I’m in everything but the Christmas crib, and I’m too big for that now!”. There was hardly a
voluntary or community organisation in the town left untouched by her deft hand. At one stage when there was a count made of the number of bodies she was engaged with, the total came to 12.
It was also said of her that she was “a talker” (and there was plenty of that) but it was widely
acknowledged she was also a “doer”. Who else but Phil and Brian Conyngham would dream up the idea of a samba festival in a (then) smallish Irish town in the 1990s? But it worked.
She had fundraised for the organisation Gorta for many years, becoming its Louth organiser and being appointed as chairperson to the county organisation and also its national board. She had been chairperson of Drogheda Federation of Residents and Tenants, director of Drogheda Partnership, director Drogheda Resource Centre for the Unemployed, director of Drogheda on the Boyne Tourism. She was also a member of Louth Network, Louth Community Forum, a member Special Strategic Committee cultural community section Louth County Council, a friend of the Droichead Arts Centre, committee member of St Patrick’s Day Parade, member of Anti-Bin Charges campaign,
secretary of Brookville Residents’ Association, former secretary of Drogheda 800 (1994).
Phil Conyngham was also a strong trade unionist and served on Drogheda Trades Council executive, equality officer with trade union Impact Louth branch, national vice chair of Impact’s Vocational Group school secretaries. At one stage she dipped her toes into the political arena, becoming Louth organiser for the Progressive Democrats Party and serving on its national executive. She was also former PRO for the Women’s Political Association.
She was predeceased by her husband Brian and is survived by her sons Gerard and Colm; daughters-in-law Susi and Anne Marie; sister-in-law Kit; grandchildren Killian, Clara, Maia, and Deane; great grandson Cooper; relatives, neighbours and many friends. She will repose at Townley’s Funeral Home, Crosslanes, Drogheda (A92XN75) on Wednesday and Thursday evening from 5pm to 7pm. Funeral Mass in Friday morning at 11am in the Augustinian Church, Drogheda. Burial afterwards in Newtown Crosslawn Cemetery, Termonfeckin Road, Drogheda.
In a tribute, the Mayor of Drogheda Cllr Michelle Hall said that it was with great sadness that she had heard of the passing of “a wonderful Cork woman who made Drogheda her homeland contributed to her adopted home in many facts be it culture, tourism, charity, or fighting for the rights of school secretaries”. She said it was always a pleasure to meet Phil where it was at the Fleadh Cheoil when I sat with her on TG4 set in 2019, at arts events such as Lu Festival of Light with her good friend Isobel Sanroma or at a Forsa activists’ meeting for pay parity for school secretaries.
“She spoke enthusiastically on any subject and regaled me with stories from her past, many
including her beloved husband Brian. Drogheda will be less colourful without the bright personality and appearance of Phil. My sincerest condolences to her family and wide circle of friends. May Phil rest in peace with Brian now”.
Aine Walsh, Chairperson, Droichead Arts Centre said that Phil was “an absolute ticket, one of a kind and the world will be much duller without her. She gave her all up to the end.
“As one of the founders of the Boyne Valley Camino (along with Dusty Flanagan, Terry Collins, Pat Coffey, Caoimhe Mulroy and David Gough) we would like to recognise the support she provided for showcasing Drogheda and supporting new ideas over the years”.
Collette Farrell, Director, Droichead Arts Centre said Phil Conyngham was a stalwart of the cultural landscape of Drogheda. “She was a fantastic supporter of the centre over 36 years and a long-time member of the film club. She will be sorely missed. Her energy, passion and commitment will always be remembered.”
