RIP Cecil

"An ex next door neighbour from Celtic Park, Gerard Patchell, told me Cecil from the Grove hung out at Austin's newspaper stand. I worked in Fingal County Council in O'Connell Street for a few years after leaving Aer Lingus. So one day on my lunch break I went over to Austin's stand and asked him if it was true Cecil Nolan the Grove DJ hung out there. Austin asked who I was. I said I went to the Grove from 1972 to 1975. Cecil must have been listening behind the stall as he suddenly popped out and asked who I was and for an hour or so we chatted and reminisced about the Mount Prospect Grove. That was around March 2005. We then started meeting regularly there. We got on really well. I couldn't wait for my lunch breaks. Cecil told me about the Grove website which I joined in April 2005 after he asked earnestly that I join and be active on as it was only new. I did that and am still active on it 18 years later. One day he mentioned the possibility of the Grove Documentary and said I'd be great on it. After much discussion over a few lunch breaks I agreed. Then sadly the Council moved from O'Connell Street to new offices in Blanchardstown so those wonderful lunch breaks came to an end. But I never lost contact with Cecil and we kept in touch. Then Derek Farrell entered my life through the Grove website and we met up together and later added Cecil. Derek hadn't seen Cecil in years. So I arranged a surprise meet up one day. Told Derek I'd meet him at his house as usual but I brought Cecil along and he hid when Derek opened the door as he was expecting only me. Derek went into his hallway but I called him back. Out popped Cecil. Two Grove legends and dear friends reunited. It was one of the most touching moments in my life. The three of us would then meet up on occasions in Derek's house. Last meet up was after the 2019 Grove Reunion when I was back in Ireland for that. Little did I know then it would be the last time I would see Cecil alive. But I had a final phone conversation with him not long before he died. Via Rob he called me here in the Philippines. He spoke so kindly and with incredible clarity and even spoke with Marjie saying such wonderful loving words about how happy he was we had met and married and were happy together. We'll never forget that phone call. It was incredibly emotional. 

Cecil is and always will be in our thoughts and prayers. His portrait which Verona Hanlon sent me and Grove photo collage that Martin Kilbride put together hang proudly on our wall here.

Sorry for the long story but it's an emotional time thinking of Cecil especially around his anniversary".