“NO MATTER where you go, you’re always ‘Co Welsh’s son’,” Chris Welsh told The Impartial Reporter as he reflected on the life of his much-loved father, James Cochrane (Co) McMurry Welsh’s life after his passing on Saturday.

The late Mr. Welsh was well known across the county for his many decades of service as a veterinarian in his practice, Erne Veterinary Group.

Co was 89 years old when he died. He was a husband to Maureen, and father to Murry, Chris, Annmaree and Tony, and a grandfather to eight.

Co stepped away from the practice in 2000, and Chris stepped in as a partner.

Chris recalled how despite his father having retired, he occasionally rang his dad for a second opinion, with his dad being very much a vet’s vet, imbued with decades of top-class knowledge and expertise.

“He delighted in it; he loved to help out – he had worked for so long, and seen so many animals, so he could always be a second opinion. As the saying goes, ‘You can’t put an old head on new shoulders’.”

Murry and Chris, who both practice, as vets both recalled driving around with their father growing up as he went between jobs.

Chris said: “I remember going out with my father from when I was knee-high, and having a pot of two pennies, so that we could use them in the phone boxes to call home to see if there were more calls.

“I learnt all my trade from him – you don’t learn veterinary [skills] from textbooks, you learn it on the job. When I got to college, I had seen more c-sections than anyone else because of dad.”

Murry Welsh delivered his eulogy to his father at the funeral on Monday morning. He paid loving tribute to his father, whom he described as “a tremendous raconteur who lived a life that lent itself to stories that could captivate and entertain an audience and, boy, could he make people laugh”.

Murry also told the story of his father’s early life and career. He said: “James Cochrane McMurry Welsh was the youngest and only son of Cochrane and Abigail Welsh. Young James probably had life good, as I suspect he was well looked after by his four older sisters, Kathleen, Brownie, Olivia and Dorren.

“It was obviously during these early years spent working on the farm with his dad that he developed his great love of animals, which ultimately shaped his professional career.”

Murry recalled his father’s many interests outside of veterinary work. While at Trinity College Dublin, he was a “formidable boxer” and earned his Trinity Pink.

He later gained his international vest and represented Ireland.

While at Trinity, Co met his lifelong friend and business partner, Pooler Leeman. It was through a weekend off from studies with Pooler to attend Strabane Point to Point where Co met his wife, Maureen.

Co moved to Enniskillen in 1969 to take over the practice that was owned by Basil and Derek Hart, along with a colleague, Ewan Patton.

Sadly, after just 11 weeks working together, Ewan passed away. Pooler stepped into the breach, and so Leeman and Welsh Veterinary Practice was formed.

Outside his clinical work, Co held many of the top offices in the Northern Ireland veterinary scene, including President, NIVA (1994); Chairman, VSSCo (1976-2000); and President, AVSPNI (1969).

Outside of work, Co had many passions, including horse racing and in particular, point to pointing.

Murry added that his father had a deep affection for his horse, Top Twig, who he described as the “horse of his generation”.

As part of his love for horses, he was the Chairman of the Fermanagh Harriers. Outside of horses, he bred and showed Simmental cattle.

He enjoyed golfing to relax with friends and family and was described as having “a very handy shot” while shooting in Derrygore and Necarne for many years.

Murry added that his father “had a very fine singing voice, which he put to good use, being a member of the Lisbellaw Presbyterian Church choir and also was a singer with the University of the Third Age”.

Murry described a dad who was a family man until the end of his life. He said: “Outside of his work and all the extra-curricular passions, there was at heart a strong but quiet family man.

“He had a tremendous sense of family, so whether it was as a husband, father, or grandfather, his primary concern was to care for, protect and provide for those he most loved.

“It was to these people that he turned to in his final months to provide the love and safekeeping that he needed to stay in the family home until the end.”

Murry also paid tribute to his mother, Maureen, and siblings Chris, Anna and Tony, alongside the team of carers who all lovingly looked after his father.

Paying tribute, Rev. Rodney Beacom said: “Co Welsh was a valued and highly-respected member of Lisbellaw Presbyterian Church.

“He was an active member of this congregation and church choir; he loved singing, and was a regular attender at Sunday worship, along with his wife, Maureen.

“Co was very helpful and loved to discuss Presbyterianism; it was in his roots, having come from a family with a very long Presbyterian tradition stretching back to the Reformation of the 16th Century.

“His presence with us will be missed, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Maureen, and the family circle at this sad time for them all.”

Co’s final journey from his home in Enniskillen was lined by family, friends and former clients as he travelled to Lisbellaw Presbyterian Church.

His funeral was conducted by Rev. Beacom, and funeral arrangements were carried out by Austin Stinson, W.T. Morrison Funeral Directors.