Nicky's Theme - 'You've Got A Friend'

Athlone town was united in grief this week over the death of a young woman most knew, and who made everybody she encountered seem special.

Over 1000 of a congregation squeezed together into Our Lady Queen of Peace church in Coosan, Athlone for the funeral of the town’s main political representative, Nicky McFadden.

The gathering included many town residents, and the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, many ministers, TDs, Senators and councillors.

The popularity of the McFadden family was felt throughout the funeral, and everyone was also conscious that Nicky and her sisters, Gabrielle (who is the Mayor of Athlone,) and Aine had buried their father, former politician, Brendan last November. 

The McFadden’s have been a well gotten family in Athlone for the past fifty years.  Nicky’s father Brendan, ran a pub ‘Molly Flynn’s’ or ‘71s’ in Connaught Street, and also worked in the ESB. 

Nicky had also worked in the ESB, and as a receptionist in a doctors surgery in the town, before entering local politics in 1999.  She also ran a pet shop, 'Paws', with her aunt, Kathleen McFadden for several years.  Nicky had two adult children, Caren and Eoin, and a little granddaughter, Matilda.

Sadly one year after achieving her highest office, Dail Deputy in 2011, Nicky was diagnosed with motor neuron disease.  After an almost two year fight, Nicky died on March 25^th at the age of 51 years.

Around a thousand people crowded into Nicky’s parish church in Coosan on the morning of her funeral. Guitarist Tadhg Kellegher played and Lorna Folan, a schoolfriend of Caren’s sung a memorable song, ‘You’ve Got A Friend’ during the ceremony.  It was written by Carole King for her famous ‘Tapestry’ album in 1971.  James Taylor took the song to No. 1 in the USA.

The song was typical of the character of Nicky McFadden, a friend, always there to call on, and one who Fr. Declan Shannon said at the mass, made everyone she met feel special.

“Nicky was everybody’s friend,” said Athlone stage actor, Ray Collins, after the funeral.  “The song was perfect for her.”

The song portrays so well the character of Nicky that it can now be considered Nicky’s theme.

Caren said during the funeral mass that while it sounds extraordinary, Nicky did actually love everybody.  It was the personality of the woman.  She saw just the good in people, and refused to consider anything else.

‘You’ve got a Friend’ is a song which could have been written for Nicky, and anybody that heard it sung at the church, will never hear it again, without thinking of Nicky.

Nicky McFadden 1962 - 2014