Recent deaths 27-06-09

Mr Jimmy 'Red" Meehan, College Rise, Drogheda, and formerly of Fordstown, Navan, who died suddenly at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital last Wednesday, had the unique distinction of having been a member of Louth"s last All-Ireland SFC winning team in 1957 and was also a member of the Meath panel for their first Sam Maguire Cup win in 1949. He had played football in Louth and Meath with two since defunct teams, Naomh Mhuire and Fordstown. Mr Meehan and his brother, Johnny, were both on the Meath senior squad in the historic All-Ireland year of 1949. Neither was presented with All-Ireland medals in this famous match, a source of upset for both men. The substitutes were presented with pocket watches and, some years later, Jim Meehan said: 'After all, the subs were just as much part of the team as the first 15.' In the following year, he was placed at full-forward in the NFL home final in which Meath lost out to Cavan. However, 'Red" travelled to New York in 1951 when outright league honours were gained with a final victory over the Exiles in the Polo Grounds. Jim Meehan helped Naomh Mhuire to Louth JFC success but returned to his native Fordstown for a short spell and missed out on the Drogheda club"s SFC triumph in 1953, the only time they won the title. The Meath native enjoyed some great footballing days after first donning the red and white of his adopted county in 1955. He certainly proved his worth in the memorable 1957 campaign. After being dropped for the Leinster semi-final against Kildare, he regained his place to star in the provincial final victory over Dublin. Following the penultimate round win over Tyrone, Mr Meehan was seen to outstanding effect in the 1-9 to 1-7 All-Ireland final triumph over Cork, bringing off a crucial goal line save near the end. He was also in the number four berth for the Leinster finals in 1958 and 1960 when Louth were denied by Dublin and Offaly and have not figured in a provincial decider since then. He enjoyed another trip to New York with the Louth team in 1958 and he was selected in the Railway Cup team that year. He played with Louth up to 1961. Jim Meehan is the fifth member of Louth"s last All-Ireland success to pass away, following full-backs Tom Conlon and Ollie Reilly as well as forwards, team captain Dermot O"Brien and Sean Cunningham, who punched the winning goal. Mr Meehan took great pride in his Meath roots but also in the achievements of his adopted county. On one particular occasion, when Royal and Wee County teams were playing against each other, his wife, Betty, made him a cap which carried the colours of both teams. It was said of him that he should have been known as 'Gentleman Jim" for his self-effacing and mild manner. Deceased is survived by his wife, Betty; son, Jim; daughter, Christine; son-in-law, James; daughter-in-law, Fiona; grandchildren, Patrick, Paul and Natalie; sisters, Rose and Peg; brothers, Francis, Bill and Johnny, and other relatives. His funeral Mass took place in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Drogheda, followed by interment in Calvary Cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Mary Reilly, Beauparc The death occurred on 27th May last of Mary Reilly (83), Beauparc, Navan, at St Joseph"s Hospital, Trim. Mrs Reilly was a member of the Cusack family, Beauparc, and was wife of the late Willie Reilly, who passed away in 1994. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Lynch; son, Finian; brother, Noel Cusack; grandchildren, Mark, Andrew and Colin Lynch and Niamh and Megan Reilly, relatives, neighbours and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Yellow Furze, to the adjoining cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Olive O"Brien, Tara The communities of Navan, Skryne, Tara and further afield were saddened by the news of the death of Mrs Olive O"Brien, Villa Maria, Ross, Tara, at Our Lady"s Hospital, Navan, on 27th May last. Deceased was a member of the Byrne family and was a native of Navan. A past pupil of St Joseph"s Mercy Convent, Navan, she was an ardent student and finished top of her class there. She then went on to work in Meath County Council until her marriage to Dominic O"Brien in 1963, from when she devoted herself to husband and family. Mrs O"Brien was an active member of the Skryne/Tara community sine her move there, including the badminton club, pitch and putt club, and tennis club, as well as Navan Bridge Club. Most notable was her involvement in Royal Tara Golf Club. Deceased had many interests, and in particular enjoyed travelling, and journeyed extensively in Europe, North America, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia many times. While she had been suffering illness over the past few months, Mrs O"Brien"s passing was sudden. She is survived by her husband, Dominic; sons, Conor, Navan, and Ronan, Ballina, Co Mayo; daughters, Elva, Navan, and Criona, Melbourne, Australia; brother, Leonard Byrne, Trim; sisters, Angela, Navan, and Ann O"Neill, Trim; grandchildren, Aisling, Daniel, Sean, Megan, Eanna, Jack and Finn; sons-in-law, David and Andrew; daughters-in-law, Hilary and Jean; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her sisters, Patsy Clerkin and Sheila Byrne. The removal took place to St Colmcille"s Church, Skryne, received by Fr Joe Gleeson, Rathfeigh, and Fr Noel Daly, Fr Bobby Gilmore and Fr Brendan Murray of the Columban Fathers. The funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr Thomas O"Mahony, PP, Skryne, assisted by Fr Sean Brazil, SSC. Burial took place in the adjoining cemetery. A month"s memory Mass will take place on Sunday 5th July at 11am in St Colmcille"s Church. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Maria McCaffrey, Kilskyre Widespread regret was occasioned by the death of Mrs Maria McCaffrey, Kilvilla, Kilskyre, Kells, at the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin, on 6th June last. Aged 58, she was a member of the Callery family and a native of county Cavan. Mrs McCaffrey was a past pupil of Crubany National School and St Claire"s Secondary School, Cavan. She then worked with Allied Irish Bank in Dublin and Navan, before joining the clerical staff of Zenith, Kells, and later P Carney Ltd, Crossakiel, and then becoming involved in the McCaffrey family business. On her marriage to Sean McCaffrey in 1975, she became actively involved in the Kilskyre community, and was very involved in the fundraising for the Kilskyre-Ballinlough church restoration projects. However, she never forgot her Cavan roots and kept in close contact with family and friends, organising a Callery clan gathering in the Welcome Wagon, Crossakiel at one stage, renewing many long lost contacts. Deceased was also the winner of the Leinster 'Housewife of the Year" competition in the past. In 1994, at the Belturbet Festival in Cavan, Mrs McCaffrey won an Emerald Star cruising holiday on the Shannon-Erne waterways and she and her husband developed a keen interest in boating as a result. She became very involved in the Belturbet branch of the Ireland Waterways Association, of which she was chairperson for a number of years. Deceased will be remembered as a very kind and welcoming person, well-known for her hospitality. She is survived by husband, Sean; daughter, Shauna; sons, Gerard and Kevin; sister, Geraldine Blaney, Dunboyne; mother-in-law, Lily; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nephews, nieces, cousins, and many friends. The funeral took place from the Church of St Alphonsus Ligouri, Kilskyre, to the adjoining cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Benny Kavanagh, Duleek The sad death recently occurred at Gormanston Wood Nursing Home of Mr Benny Kavanagh (73), Drogheda Road, Duleek, a leading greyhound trainer in Ireland for many years. A native of the district, he was a cabinet-maker by trade, but was best-known as an extremely popular figure in greyhound racing and sales circles, where he was highly regarded as one of the greet characters of the sport that he loved. His greyhounds were always among the winners at the old Navan Greyhound Track, where he enjoyed many great nights with all the local greyhound enthusiasts. His dogs won most of the competitions run in Navan over the years but one that got away was the Cesarewitch, although the gallant KBO Pride finished second in 1977, only beaten by a short head in a photo finish. Mr Kavanagh was also a regular at the old Ramparts track in Dundalk, where he also enjoyed many a successful night. In Dublin, he was more of a Harolds Cross man than Shelbourne Park and it was at Harolds Cross that he achieved possibly his biggest success with Aoife"s Act, when he won the stayers" classic, An Corn Cuchulainn, in 1996. Deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs Claire Kavanagh; son, Dan Kavanagh; daughters, Mrs Susan Hennessy, Mrs Louise McBride and Mrs Bernie Pentony; brothers, Noel and Joe Kavanagh; sister, Mrs Mary Bohan; sons-in-law, Paul Hennessy, Michael McBride and Brian Pentony; daughter-in-law, Tina Kavanagh; brother-in-law, Tom Bohan; nephews, nieces, grandchildren and other relatives. There was a very large attendance at both the removal of the remains to St Cianan"s Church, Duleek, and the funeral which took place following requiem Mass to Holy Cross Cemetery, Duleek.