Recent Deaths 16-8-08

Mr S O"Neill, Kilmessan Widespread regret was occasioned by the death of Mr Sean O"Neill, Ennistown, Kilmessan, at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, on 1st August last, after a long illness. Aged 77, Mr O"Neill was a son of the late Mark and Marcella O"Neill and a native of Ringlestown, Kilmessan. He worked in the construction industry both in Ireland and in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, where he emigrated to in 1957. Mr O"Neill was a talented hurler and played with the Kilmessan club, winning O"Growney Cup and senior championship medals. In 1990, he was the recipient of the Kilmessan Hurling Club hall of fame award. In England, he continued his hurling career in Swindon, playing for Naomh Seamrog, and was on their teams that won Gloucestershire hurling championships in 1960, "61, "63, "66 and "67. He also represented Gloucestershire at inter county level many times. A fitting tribute was paid to Mr O"Neill when Kilmessan Hurling Club formed a guard of honour at his removal. The Kilmessan and Swindon jerseys adorned his coffin. Mr O"Neill was well loved and respected and will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. He is survived by his brothers, Des, Raheny, Dublin, and Jimmy, Ringlestown, Kilmessan; sisters, Brenda Madden, Athlone, Co Westmeath, Joan Flynn, Dunsany, Marcella Farrell, Ennistown, Kilmessan; sister-in-law, Teresa, Raheny; nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of Our Lady"s Nativity, Kilmessan, to the adjoining cemetery, on Monday 4th August. Mrs E Farrelly, Crossakiel The sad death recently occurred at Our Lady"s Hospital, Navan, of Mrs Elizabeth (Lilly) Farrelly (77), Clonabraney, Crossakiel, Kells. A member of the Muldoon family from Carnaross, she was predeceased by her husband, Patrick, just last December. Deceased is survived by her son, John Farrelly, Clonabraney; daughters, Mrs Sheila Bough, Clonkeefey, Oldcastle, and Mrs Catherine Brunton, Clonabraney; brother, Mr Hugh Muldoon, Ballyhist, Carnaross; sisters, Mrs Kathleen Fitzsimons, Clonee, and Mrs Margaret Reilly, New York; grandchildren and other relatives. The funeral took place from Kilskyre Church to the local cemetery. Mrs J Andrews, Navan & Dublin The death occurred on Monday of last week of Mrs Joyce Andrews, Dundrum, Dublin, and formerly of Navan. Mrs Andrews was wife of the late CS (Todd) Andrews, whom she married in 1968. Daughter of Edward J Duffy and Bridget Duggan, deceased was born in Navan in November 1935, the seventh of nine children. Her father was county surveyor and engineer until his untimely death in 1947, and was responsible for many building and road projects in county Meath, including labourers" cottages and the road over Tullaghanstown Bog. Joyce Duffy attended Loreto Secondary School in Navan, and when the Duffy family moved to Dublin in 1949 following the death of Mr Duffy, she completed her secondary education in St Louis" College, Rathmines. The then Ms Duffy was personal secretary to the late Todd Andrews when he was chairman of Bord na Mona, and later CIE and RTE, and was to become his second wife in 1968. When Mr Andrews, father of politicians David and the late Niall, was penning his second memoir, "Man of No Property" in 1982, he thanked his wife, Joyce, 'whose wit and wisdom helped me over many of my periods of discouragement.' Mr Andrews" wife, Mary, had died in 1967 after what he described as a "good and full life together." 'Being temperamentally quite incapable of enduring the loneliness of bachelor existence, it was fortunate for me that I was able to remarry,' he wrote. 'I married Joyce Duffy, who was the daughter of Edward Duffy, the distinguished engineer and expert on peat; he had been with me on our Russian expedition in 1935. She had been my secretary for a time in CIE and had become a friend to my family.' Over a period of years, Mrs Andrews gained a B A, M Ed and H Dip Ed from University College, Dublin. She obtained a diploma from the Froebel Institute and was a primary and secondary school teacher. Deceased had many associations with UCD and was appointed Director of Alumni Development, and was information officer and a member of the governing body. She was nominated for election to Seanad Eireann under the National University of Ireland panel. Mrs Andrews was also a member of the board of management of St Vincent"s Hospital, Elm Park, and Stewarts Hospital. Last week, Stewarts Foundation recorded its gratitude for Mrs Andrews" lifetime dedicated to enhancing the lives of all in its care. Deceased was a member of Royal Tara Golf Club in recent years and was involved in the ladies committee there for a period, and had a home at Grangebective, near Bellinter Bridge. Mrs Andrews is survived by her sisters, Imelda, (Loreto Mullingar), Gene McMahon and Sigle Prunty; brothers, Tony, John and Fr Michael Duffy, SSC Dalgan Park, Navan; stepsons, David and Hugh Andrews; stepdaughter Catherine Tubridy (mother of RTE"s Ryan Tubridy); nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends. She was predeceased by her husband in 1985, and by her brothers, Fr Fergus, Dalgan Park, and Pierce. The funeral took place on Thursday last from the Church of the Holy Cross, Dundrum, to Mount Jerome Crematorium. Mrs C Geraghty, Navan The regretted death occurred on Tuesday of last week of Mrs Catherine (Kay) Geraghty, Dublin Road, Navan, and the Royal Meath Pub, Watergate Street, Navan. Mrs Geraghty, who had been in ill-health in recent years, passed away a day after her 81st birthday. A native of the Liberties area of Dublin, her family owned a shop there in which she worked in her early years. Deceased married Kilcock native Pat Geraghty, and the family bought The Royal Meath pub in 1968, where she was a well known figure up until retirement about 13 years ago. Mrs Geraghty was very involved in the Irish Wheelchair Association and took part in a great deal of charity work for it. She was also a founder member of the Navan Mental Health Association. She was a very good singer and was always called upon to entertain at various charity functions. Over the past seven years, Mrs Geraghty had been suffering from Alzheimers, and was attending the Alzheimers Day Care Centre on the Kells Road, where she was well looked after by the staff. She is survived by her husband, Pat; daughter Michelle Ni Choileain, Ennistown, Kilmessan; son Peter, Navan; son-in-law, Ruairi, grandchildren Ruairi and Katie; Malvina and family; brothers, Tom and Dick, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. There was a large attendance at the funeral which took place on Thursday last from St Mary"s Church, Navan, to St Joseph"s Cemetery, Kilcock. Mr H McCarthy, Dunshaughlin Mr Hughie McCarthy, Grange End, Dunshaughlin, who has died aged 90, was involved in community service and sport in the village for many years. A native of Ratoath, he and his wife Josephine (nee Nulty) moved to Grangend in 1947. When Dunshaughlin"s first ever fire service was being set up in 1956, Mr McCarthy was a member of the crew, which also included Patsy McLoughlin, Oliver Mangan, Sean Kenny, Matt Daly and Seamus Foley. Mr McCarthy was the first sub officer and the family tradition in the fire service continued with members of the next two generations of his family involved with the service. Mr McCarthy was also a committed member of Dunshaughlin GFC and was described as "committee man supreme" in the 1950s and "60s, when the club was developing its grounds at Drumree Road and organising the renowned Dunshaughlin Carnival. He served as a selector when the club won two championships, one in hurling and one in football, and was a dedicated committee man. Mr McCarthy was a past recipient of the club"s hall of fame award, and the citation at the time read that: 'during his membership of the club he travelled to many dance halls organising fund raising events during the carnival years. He was the first to arrive on the scene and the last to depart. It was during those years that the club ran seven-a-sides. He was there to do gateman, and when the official gateman arrived he umpired the game. He was also available to act as umpre for the local referee at club and inter-county level. 'After every game he collected the jerseys, took them home, Josie washed them and sent them back aired and spotless, which in those days was no mean feat as washing machines and dryers were not yet invented.' The citation also recalled that Mr McCarthy was a delegate to the county board, and on one occasion, along with two other deleages from the club, missed his lift home and had to walk the 11 miles back. His working life was spent on many farms in the area and he also farmed at Grange End. Hughie and Josephine McCarthy celebrated 65 years of marriage in 2004 and Mrs McCarthy passed away in July 2005. Deceased was predeceased by his wife Josephine; son, Michael; grandson Robert; granddaughter Linda Rodgers, and son-in-law, Willie Ryan. Mr McCarthy is survived by his family, Peggy Ryan, Leixlip, Christy, Drumree Road, Dunshaughlin, Hughie, Blanchardstown, Esther, Hillview, Dunshaughlin, Dinny, Grange End, Dunshaughlin and Tommy, Hillview; in-laws; grandchildren; great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of Ss Patrick and Seachnall, Dunshaughlin, to the old St Seachnall"s Cemetery, celebrated by Fr Joe Clavin, PP, Dunshaughlin, and Fr Joe Foley, a native of the village. A graveside tribute was paid by Mr Seamus Flynn on behalf of the local community. A month"s memory Mass will take place on Sunday, 7th September, at 9am, in Dunshaughlin Church.