Jack McElroy (1910-1996)

Jack & Mary McElroy

Christened John Francis, but commonly known as Jack, he was born and raised in the townland of Glenmalin (Gleann Málainn), the son of John and Mary Ann McEllroy.  Jack, along with the rest of his family had a huge interest in music.  At a relatively young age he learned to read notation, opening up the genres of both jazz and classical music to him.  Con McGinley of Meenacross (Mín na Croise) and Cheshire recalls Jack playing one steps, two steps and foxtrots at dances in Cashel (Caiseal) National School in the late 1920s and early 30s.  Jack later worked as a ‘clerk of works’ during the construction of the Hydro Dam at Ballyshannon.  He followed the company to Dublin where he worked up until his retirement in the late 1960s.  Jack served as choir master at Lexlip, Coounty Kildare, and at Raheny in Dublin, where he held the position for twenty five years.  He enjoyed travelling home to Glencolmcille (Gleann Cholm Cille) every year with his wife, Mary and son John, where he also assisted the choir in Cashel (Caiseal).  Jack had a huge record collection, and enjoyed his other hobbies of gardening and stamp collecting into his later years.