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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Valerie

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30 May 2014 09:24 - 30 May 2014 22:16 #1 by JohnH (John)
Valerie was created by JohnH (John)
It is with the utmost upset that I am posting this notice:

www.rip.ie/showdn.php?dn=226345/ValerieR...NEY/Kilcolgan/Galway

Not too many of the more recent Forum members will have known Valerie, even though her name is still very prominent in many many of the older posts - especially many of the older instructional "stickies". For a good while she was the sole Administrator here and did an exceptionally good job at it as well, but ill-health forced her to have to take a back seat, but even then her behind-the-scenes assistance to me was invaluable in this task here.

As i said at the start - it is with a very heavy heart that I write this but really did not want her passing to go unmentioned on the Forum, for which she did SO much sterling work.

Valerie and her husband were very good to me personally - especially supportive in my personal dark times, I have not only lost a fellow Administrator but also a very dear friend.

I hope you Rest in Peace, Valerie - you'll be much missed here.

John

Edit;
Darragh has added a dedication to Valerie on the Forum home Page:

www.irishfishkeepers.com/
Second Edit: I have left a "Thank You" - to each and every one of you who has posted their very kind condolences - on behalf of Valerie's Family. At some point in the future I will ensure they get to see just how very much she was liked and how much she will be missed by our little community.

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.
Last edit: 30 May 2014 22:16 by JohnH (John). Reason: Second addition
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30 May 2014 09:45 #2 by irish-zx10r (James feenan)
Replied by irish-zx10r (James feenan) on topic Valerie
sorry to here John condolance to her family and friends
Rip Valerie

Something fishie going on here
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30 May 2014 10:16 - 30 May 2014 10:17 #3 by Ski (Alan McGee)
Replied by Ski (Alan McGee) on topic Valerie
Very sorry to hear this. RIP Valerie
Last edit: 30 May 2014 10:17 by Ski (Alan McGee).
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30 May 2014 10:31 #4 by anglecichlid (ciaran hogan)
Replied by anglecichlid (ciaran hogan) on topic Valerie
Very sad news John,
Very sad to hear,
I've only had contact once or twice with Val and she seemed very nice,
But your kind words probably explained how good she really was,
Give my regards to the family
And I hope your doing ok in this difficult time.
Regards
Ciaran

Anyone with a aquarium can keep fish,
But it takes real skill to be a fish keeper,


And it's spongeBob,
SpongeBob lives in a pineapple under the sea
BLANCHARDSTOWN
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30 May 2014 11:29 #5 by jwm (sean sean)
Replied by jwm (sean sean) on topic Valerie
Met Valerie on a couple of occasions, a very nice lady and a friend almost instantly. My Condolence to her family.

John

A person who surrenders when he is WRONG, is HONEST. A person who SURRENDERS when not SURE, is WISE. A person who surrenders even if he is RIGHT, is a HUSBAND.
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30 May 2014 11:31 #6 by swai (Simon)
Replied by swai (Simon) on topic Valerie
Sorry to hear this.

Marino, Dublin 9
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30 May 2014 12:19 #7 by Gavin (Gavin)
Replied by Gavin (Gavin) on topic Valerie
I have very fond memories of Valarie, always happy and quick with a kind word. She always made time to venture up and support any project I was involved in over the years. I'm very sorry for her family and know that she will be missed. RIP.

dont make me come over there.
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30 May 2014 13:16 #8 by Aroshni (Lydia Olivera)
Replied by Aroshni (Lydia Olivera) on topic Valerie
I would like to meet her but didn't have the opportunity.
My condolences to the family and friends.
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30 May 2014 13:31 #9 by KenS (Ken Simpson)
Replied by KenS (Ken Simpson) on topic Valerie
Very sad news. RIP.

Regards,

Ken.
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30 May 2014 14:25 #10 by alan 64 (alan)
Replied by alan 64 (alan) on topic Valerie
sorry for the news i will say a prayer for her and her family and friends
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30 May 2014 15:00 #11 by derek (Derek Doyle)
Replied by derek (Derek Doyle) on topic Valerie
Such sad news. RIP Valerie.

30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish
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30 May 2014 15:18 #12 by goldy (goldy .)
Replied by goldy (goldy .) on topic Valerie
so very sad to hear Valerie has passed away. In the good old days she was part of the back bone of the fishkeeping scene. The forum was really vibrant and she was a brilliant and very diplomatic moderator. always there to help newbies like me and to encourage people along with whatever projects they were undertaking. she was involved in the early shows that we put on and with an upsurge in interest in fishkeeping she started the CFKS in Galway and encouraged people to join up and get involved.

Valerie used to come all the way from Galway to attend ITFS meetings and even gave a hand with selling raffle tickets at one of the shows when she was really very sick, that is some distance to travel especially when some people closer to Dublin couldn't seem to make the journey to help out. We were all great friends and we will miss you dearly Valerie.

Our condolences to her family and especially to her husband Declan.

Nessa
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30 May 2014 15:33 #13 by arabu1973 (. .)
Replied by arabu1973 (. .) on topic Valerie
A very sad news indeed, she was a very good likable person and I always had a great chat with her every time we meet, RIP Valerie, I'll miss our chats at meetings or shows.
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30 May 2014 17:01 #14 by igmillichip (ian millichip)
Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic Valerie
Very sad news.

ian and Justine.

Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.
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30 May 2014 17:49 #15 by Homer (Kevin)
Replied by Homer (Kevin) on topic Valerie
Only met the Lady once, a lovely person indeed.

Kev.

The Glass is always greener on the other side.


It's NOT "Chee lick", NOT "Chee Chee Licks"!!! Cichlids is pronounced as "Sick Lids"!!!!!
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30 May 2014 19:53 #16 by mickeywallace (Michael Wallace Cath Woods)
Such sad News Valerie was a inspiration and one of the driving forces of the forum and fishkeeping in general in Ireland. A wonderful person we will all sadly miss.



Mickey ,Catherine,David and Nathan

Mickey Wallace & Cath Woods
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30 May 2014 20:51 #17 by mossy (gavin blanchfield)
Replied by mossy (gavin blanchfield) on topic Valerie
so sad to hear this about valerie
had some dealing with her from time to time and she always helped me out
you will be missed
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30 May 2014 21:42 #18 by m4r10 (m4r10)
Replied by m4r10 (m4r10) on topic Valerie
Only met her once but she made an impression on my girls.

Condolences to the family.

RIP
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30 May 2014 21:42 #19 by zig (zig)
Replied by zig (zig) on topic Valerie
So saddened by this news. You were a beautiful person Valerie. My sincerest sympathies to Declan . May you rest in peace.

Peter
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30 May 2014 21:56 #20 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Replied by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner) on topic Valerie
Very sad news, I never met her but often had many dealings with her on here when I started out in the hobby,and I can only echo those that knew her in their reference to the help and assistance she always gave,she was always very obliging and certainly helped me out when I was first staring out in this hobby. I knew she was ill in recent times but when she popped in occassionly on here you could tell she was still passionite about the hobby. I think its fitting we remember her for the work she did on this forum over the years and fishkeeping, even if many of the more recent members may not have had the pleasure of knowing her, as John has mentioned she was a most kind lady.
May she rest in peace and thoughts to her family at this difficult time.

Gavin
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30 May 2014 22:17 #21 by hammie (Neil Hammerton)
Replied by hammie (Neil Hammerton) on topic Valerie
Being a relatively new member on here, I was never fortunate enough to meet her or have any dealings with her, but just from reading everyone's posts above and having a look around the forum since I joined here looking to expand my knowledge. Ive read alot of her posts etc and have come to the conclusion, she was someone special!!!
My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this time

Sleep easy xx
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30 May 2014 22:25 #22 by Esoxluciouss (denis goulding)
Oh no. Words fail me.
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31 May 2014 00:46 #23 by Miamiheat (Stephane Lemaire)
My most sincere condolences to her family. RIP
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31 May 2014 02:33 #24 by sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
Replied by sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie) on topic Valerie
I knew Valerie well and she had a passion for the hobby and a pleasant disposition, always had time for a chat with her and enjoyed meeting and knowing her, very sad to hear of her passing, at least she is now in a better place.... R.I.P. Val and my heart felt sympathies to her family

Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild

currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
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31 May 2014 11:15 #25 by john gannon (John Gannon)
Replied by john gannon (John Gannon) on topic Valerie
so sorry to hear this terrible news .Condolences to valeries family.rest in peace
john

IRISH TROPICAL FISH SOCIETY CLUB MEMBER
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31 May 2014 13:30 #26 by christyg (Chris Geraghty)
Replied by christyg (Chris Geraghty) on topic Valerie
RIP Valerie.
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31 May 2014 14:47 #27 by ABdarudeone (Mick)
Replied by ABdarudeone (Mick) on topic Valerie
Very sorry to hear this sad news
Rest in Peace Valerie .

**Neither a teacher nor a native speaker**
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31 May 2014 15:58 #28 by Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
Replied by Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens) on topic Valerie
Just back from a wonderful celebration of Valerie's life in Galway. A lovely humanist service with personal tributes, music and poetry to remember Valerie. The common theme was her positive attitude and welcoming friendly ways.

The service finished with an impromptu a capella version of Galway Girl.

A very sad day for her husband Declan, her family and her incredibly wide circle of friends.


Daragh
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31 May 2014 21:20 #29 by ipcompto (Ian Compton)
Replied by ipcompto (Ian Compton) on topic Valerie
xxxxxxxxxx Val.....sweet dreams miss u!!!
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01 Jun 2014 09:13 #30 by CrustyCrab (Peter Biddulph)
Replied by CrustyCrab (Peter Biddulph) on topic Valerie
Well Upset right now, only just heard the sad news.
Valerie you will be missed. I dont think that there was a fishkeeper in the west, that didnt know, and respect Valerie.
Repose en paix mon ami, dans cette grande aquarium, dans le ciel
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