Wee Goergie

George Casey

George Casey or ‘Wee Georgie’ as he became known, may not have been native to Dundalk, but was adopted as one of the town’s own.
It is thought he came from Cork and had been widowed. It is said he visited Dundalk for a football match but never left the town after that! It appears that he maintained his interest in sporting matters in his adopted town, being a regular spectator at Oriel Park.
He was known for playing his melodeon and telling stories to local children,and he made money by collecting empty bottles.
Small in stature standing less than five feet tall, this may be why many children found it easy to approach him. He had a great fondness for children and willingly shared what he had with them. Those who can remember him testify, he also was a regular visitor to Blackrock where he would walk up and down the promenade playing his squeeze box for a penny or two.
He lived for a time in a small council house on Rampart Lane and number of locations over the years, including a time spent sleeping rough.and was a regular site throughout the town, wheeling his hand cart filled with his belongings, made from an old orange crate.
Reputed to have lived to the grand old age of 111. “Wee Georgie” celebrated his 100th birthday in 1957 and letter he received from President Sean T O’Ceallaigh congratuling him on his centenary and expressing his wish that he accept £5 on behalf of the Irish people. He spent the last years of his life in St Oliver’s Hospital. Following his death in 1968 he was buried in an unmarked grave in St Patrick’s Cemetery.

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In 2001 local people financed the erection a headstone on his unmarked grave in St Patrick’s Cemetery. Below is a copy of a painting I donated to this cause.

The affection which people had for Georgie, is evidenced by the pictures of him, found in the most unusual places in the world, and he lives on in the memories of a certain generation of Dundalk people.

 Information Source:Rev Stanley Millen
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