In the early hours of Friday morning 11th November 2022, Victor passed away surrounded by his family in Mullingar General Hospital. His death something of a shock to family and friends despite his recent stay in hospital and his maturing years, 86 years young. Some of us thought Victor could live forever!

 

Victor the eldest of 5 Children born to Sonny and Margaret Kiernan (nee Begley). His siblings Mary, Bridie, John & Nan all emigrated to the USA, while his brother Tom (Brady) resides in Longford town. Tom Brady was reared at the Forge by Margaret and Sonny Kiernan owing to the untimely death of his mother when he was an infant.  

 

Victor married Evelyn (nee Keogh) in August 1966 and they had had 10 Children - Denice, Elaine, Micheal (RIP), Gerard, Justin, Christopher, Yvonne, Lorell, Alicia & Vanessa.

 

Victor left school at the age of 14 (common at that time) to take up his apprenticeship with his father in the Forge. Sonny Kiernan’s health was deteriorating, and Victor had to step up and take over the running of the Forge. Some years later, Victor evolved the family business to adapt with the changing times and completed a course in wielding. In addition to offering blacksmith services he made gates, railings, trailers and all other iron works, he also opened petrol pumps.

 

Victor was a keen farmer with his love of animals stemming from his work as a Blacksmith. Victor also traded as an Auctioneer for many years having established a partnership ‘Doherty & Kiernan Auctioneers’ with his good friend Mickey Doherty.

 

Owing to Victor’s good and respected character, Victor was nominated as a Peace Commissioner – an honorary appointment made by the Minister for Justice under Section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act . 

 

Victor was always passionate about politics and an avid supporter of Fine Gael. It was a life ambition of Victor’s to serve as a County Councillor in Longford and in 1991 he was elected as a local representative in the Killoe / Ballinalee area, he was elected on 2 further occasions in 2004 and 2009 and retired in 2014 serving a continuous 23 years as a Councillor and holding the post of Chairman of Longford County Council in 2000/01. Victor loved his time as an elected member of Longford County Council, it was in his nature to try to help people the best he could, the comradery between his fellow political colleagues gave him great joy.

 

Life did serve some horrific blows to Victor, the death of his eldest son Micheal in 1996 shocked everyone to the core – life would never be the same again. It was a source of comfort to Victor to see the business developed by Micheal continue to operate as a family business with his daughters taking on the challenging   task. Victor was a constant in the Forge from the day it opened, 31st March 1995, until weeks before his death, while he never worked behind the bar, he assumed every other associated role, he was always good at giving direction!! Above all he became the friendly welcoming face that young and old enjoyed engaging with, to quote some, Victor became an ‘institution ‘ of The Olde Forge. 

 

Evelyn’s death in 2008 was a further heart break for Victor having injured some very tough times following the sudden death of his son Micheal. Victor & Evelyn deserved a reprieve from sadness, but God had other plans. When Evelyn passed, Victor was supported by his children and friends and his nightly visits to The Olde Forge helped with the loneliness.

 

Victor had such a presence, loved by young and old, he had a unique wit that gave rise to many bouts of laughter.  Victor lived a very full life, he was never a day idle even in his later years, he continued to farm and even weeks before his death he was still carrying out works in ‘the forge’ workshop. Victor would often be spotted with a trailer after the car that had some form of a ‘job’ on board.

 

We are all so proud to say that Victor (Daddy) was our Dad, a truly unique man ‘an ordinary but extraordinary man’, the definition of a ‘Gentleman’, regarded as something of a Legend by many.