Recent Deaths 23-8-08

Mr C Kelly, Summerhill The death occurred unexpectedly last week of Mr Christy Kelly of Ginnets, Summerhill, who represented Ireland in the Paralympics in 1965 and later became a founder member of Summerhill Archery Club. Mr Kelly (65) died in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, on Thursday, after a two-month illness, and a large crowd attended his funeral in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Dangan, on Sunday morning last. As well as being known for his involvement in the sport of archery, Mr Kelly was a member of a number of bands over the years, playing keyboard, the most recent being'Gold and Silver". In the early nineteen sixties, while still in his twenties, Mr Kelly suffered illness which left him as a wheelchair-user. He never allowed the disability from preventing him have a full and active life and when a patient in the rehabilitation hospital in Dun Laoghaire, he became interested in archery, as there was a practice area in the hospital grounds. He went on to represent Ireland in the Paralympics held in Stoke Mandeville in England in 1965, his first time to wear an Irish jersey abroad representing his country, and represented Ireland internationally on numerous occasions after that. In more recent years, Mr Kelly was behind the establishment of Summerhill Archery Club, and was a mainstay of it, and also coached. The club has gone from strength to strength and it was a great delight for Mr Kelly to know that a member, Sean Heary, would be travelling to Beijing in China to take part in this year"s Paralympics. As a musician, he played in a number of different groups over the years, including 'The Exiles" and the 'Kit Kelly"s Band", and at the time of his passing was a member of 'Gold and Silver" with his brother Pat, John and Ted Greville, and Billy Melia, mainly playing at ballroom dancing functions. Two years ago, he released a CD with special guests, for a cystic fibrosis charity. His son, Martin, had passed away in 2005, aged 21, having suffered from the condition. The archery club"s outdoor training range is named after Martin. Mr Kelly was involved in numerous local activities, and ran for Lord Mayor of Summerhill when the local community was raising funds for the community centre, raising valuable funding at the time. In his younger years, he was a fanatical stock car racer, and was a member of the South Meath Stock Car Club. Deceased operated a lawnmower service and sales workshop at Ginnets. Deceased is survived by his wife, Joan; brother, Pat; mother-in-law, Margaret Quinn, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, aunt, cousins, relatives and friends. The funeral took place from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Dangan, on Sunday morning to the adjoining cemetery. Fr TP Gavin, PP, Summerhill, officiated, assisted by Fr Joe Brilly, a native of the parish. Soloist Edel McKay was joined by the church choir for the ceremony, in which family members and friends took part, and a graveside tribute was paid by Peter Stokes of the Irish Wheelchair Association. Nessan McMahon, Wilkinstown His many friends and acquaintances were plunged into shock and mourning by the recent death of 14-year-old Nessan McMahon, Wilkinstown, Navan. Nessan, who had just completed his second year at Kells Community School (Pobailscoil Chiaráin), died at Our Lady"s Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, on 26th July following a short illness. Son of Liam and Marian McMahon, Wilkinstown, Nessan was a talented gaelic footballer and played under-15 and under-16 with Wolfe Tones GFC. Deceased is survived, in addition to his parents, by his brother, Cian; sister, Labhaoise; uncles, aunts and cousins. The funeral took place from St John The Baptist Church, Kilberry, to Kilberry Cemetery. The funeral Mass was concelebrated by Fr John O"Brien, PP, Kilberry/Oristown; Fr John Byrne, PP, Kells; Fr Liam Malone, CC, Kells, and Fr W Crahan. The choir consisted of boys from St Colmcille"s Boys" Primary School, Kells, where Nessan had been a pupil prior to starting secondary school, and his schoolfriends and team-mates from Wolfe Tones GFC formed a guard of honour at his funeral. Mrs T McCabe, Rathfeigh and Dublin Much sadness was occasioned by the recent death, at Hillview Nursing Residence, Rathfeigh, Tara, of Mrs Theresa McCabe, 14 Charleville, Lower Churchtown Road, Dublin 14. A member of the Buckley family originally from Limerick, she is survived by her husband, Patrick, Hillview Nursing Residence, Rathfeigh; brother, Sean, Canada; sister, Phyllis, Limerick; sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces and relatives. The funeral took place from Boyerstown Church to Bohermeen Cemetery. Mr P Potter, Navan Mr Paddy Potter, Proudstown Road, Navan, who died at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, on 11th July last, was a former employee of Slane Mills, where he was a conscientious and popular worker. Aged 85, he was husband of Rita (nee Byrne). As a footballer, Mr Potter won a senior championship and Feis Cup with Duleek in 1943, and was a supporter of the Meath team all his life. Deceased was a daily Mass goer and a devoted family man who will be greatly missed by his family and wide circle of friends. He is survived by his wife, Rita; daughters, Madeline Ledwidge, Johnstown, Anne Moran, Boyne Road, Patricia O"Rourke, Donaghmore, Jean Whyte, Kilberry; brother, Joe Potter, Dublin; sister, Josie McKenna, Drogheda; sons-in-law; brother-in-law; sister-in-law; grandchildren, and great grandson. The funeral took place from St Mary"s Church, Navan, to St Mary"s Cemetery. Mrs B Carroll, Navan Widespread regret was caused by the recent death of Mrs Bridget Carroll, McDermott Villas, Navan, at Our Lady"s Hospital, Navan. A native of Tullamore, Co Offaly, Mrs Carroll (nee Keenan) was wife of the late Bertie, who died in 1976. She was aged 86 and the last surviving member of her immediate family. Predeceased by her grandson, Peter, in June 2007, Mrs Carroll is survived by her sons, Dominick, Cavan, Paul, Navan, Henry, Australia; daughters, Rosemary Murray, Kells, Geraldine Clarke, Collon and Carmel Cosgrove, Navan; sons- and daughters-in-law, 20 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Her remains were removed to St Mary"s Church on Saturday 2nd August last for Requiem Mass concelebrated by Fr Sean Neylon, Fr William Coleman and Fr Ignatius Watters, followed by burial in St Mary"s Cemetery. Fr A Walsh, Summerhill The funeral took place in Dangan yesterday (Tuesday) of the former parish priest of Summerhill, Very Rev Fr Aiden Walsh, who ministered in the parish for seven years before suffering a serious stroke in 1998. Born in Ballinea, Mullingar, Fr Walsh was educated in St Finian"s College, Mullingar, and St Patrick"s College, Maynooth. After his ordination in 1962, he served in the Diocese of St Louis, USA, for six years. He returned to work in the Meath diocese, serving as curate in Kells from 1968-1971; Duleek from 1971 to 1976, and Raharney from 1976-1991. Fr Walsh worked with the catechetical team in the diocese and was director from 1985 to 1991. He was appointed parish priest of Summerhill from 1991 to 1998, when he was taken ill. Since then, Fr Walsh has been in hospital and at Newbrook Nursing Home, Mullingar, where he passed away peacefully on Friday last. Paying tribute to him at weekend Masses, the present parish priest of Summerhill, Fr TP Gavin, described how Fr Walsh had been responsible for the renovations of the two churches in the parish, Coole and Dangan, and spoke of how he had served the parishioners, particularly those who were experiencing sickness. Fr Gavin also spoke of how Fr Walsh delivered the gospel. Deceased is survived by his brothers, Michael and Joseph; sisters-in-law, Mary and Patricia; nieces, nephews, cousins, Fr Michael Walsh and Fr Patrick Casey, Bishop Smith, relatives and the parishioners of Coole and Dangan. The removal took place from Mullingar to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Dangan, on Monday evening, and con-celebrated funeral Mass took place there yesterday (Tuesday) followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.