5 Generations of Excellence

1st Generation - JERMEMIAH CASEY

Jeremiah Casey came to live in Inchigeela from Ballyvourney in 1882.

A carpenter by trade he established Casey Undertakers in 1887 and quickly built a strong local reputation for providing a “dignified locally based funeral service”. He married Margaret Lucey from Lissacreasig, Macroom. Their son Paddy was born in 1894 and followed in the family tradition by serving as a carpenter and becoming an apprentice with the funeral business from his teenage years.

2nd Generation - PADDY CASEY

Jeremiah died when Paddy was just 22 years old. While young in years, he had inherited his father’s natural gift for putting families at ease in times of great distress. He developed a small building business, put his carpentry skills to use in making all his own coffins, and also became one of the first insurance agents in the area in the years after the founding of the state. Paddy was a mainstay for the people of Inchigeela and the surrounding areas for practically the whole of a century. He lived in the village and was involved in the family businesses all of his life. A gifted scribe and talented writer of poetry, plays and letters, he died at the great age of 99 yrs old, in December 1993.

3rd Generation - TIMOTHY J. CASEY

During his almost 100 years, Paddy Casey had himself overseen the next two generations of Casey’s in following the path laid down by Jeremiah. His son Timmy Casey was born in 1929 and inevitably kept up the family traditions of carpentry and undertaking. He was also a fine businessman.1969 saw the arrival of the first new hearse, a Vauxhall Cresta Deluxe, brought in from what was at the time, the far-flung outpost of Luton in England.
In 1971 Timmy was responsible for building a funeral home in Inchigeela, one of the first in West Cork. The quality of service and reputation built through three generations had allowed Casey’s Funeral Home to expand the range of areas it served.

4th Generation - CYRIL CASEY

In 1976 Timmy Casey died at the young age of 47.

His own son Cyril was only 12 at the time but with the help of his mother Mary and Grandfather Paddy, he began to learn the business and quickly showed the same aptitude that had served the family so well over 90 years. A key figure in the business from 1977 on was Con O’Leary. Having been a great friend of Timmy, he worked on an off in the business prior to this and was of great support and help in teaching the fundamentals of the funeral business to Cyril. Con was very much a part of the business and played a vital role until his retirement in 2006. To date, Cyril along with his wife Louise have overseen the further extension of the Funeral Services to Kilnamartyra, Coolea, Ballyvourney, Kilmichael and surrounding areas, and opening a second Funeral Home in Coachford – thus completing the journey started by his Great Grandfather Jeremiah, four generations previously.

5th Generation - SHANE CASEY M.B.I.E

In 2006, Cyril’s son Shane Casey became the fifth generation to start his apprenticeship. Shane went on to train and qualify as a Professional Embalmer and is a member of the prestigious world renowned organisation The British Institute of Embalmers.

In 2008, Cyril & Louise assumed full responsibility for the running of the Funeral business.

Currently

In 2024, and 137 years providing care and compassion to families, Cyril, Louise & Shane along with their professional and dedicated staff continue to maintain the same principles of service, dignity, and respect that were developed by Cyril’s great-grandfather Jeremiah Casey in 1887.