Recent deaths 16-01-10

Mr Johnny Heery, St Enda's Villas, Navan, who died on Christmas Day, was holder of seven senior football championship medals with Navan O'Mahonys, and also had a successful cycling career. He was aged 82 and passed away after a short illness. Born in March 1927, in Rathbran, Collon, the family moved in 1936 to Ardsallagh, Navan, where deceased attended the De La Salle school. There, he developed an interest in Gaelic, playing football and hurling for the school under-14 teams. At 16, he began his apprenticeship in the licensed grocery trade at Duffy's Cross, Readypenny, where he spent two years. During this time, he turned out for St Mary's minor football team, Ardee, which in 1943 beat St Mary's College, Dundalk, in the final of the Louth minor championship. Returning to Ardsallagh, Mr Heery worked with a local building contractor, servicing his fleet of lorries and carrying out minor repairs. It was at this stage he was first bit by the cycling bug, when attending an athletics meeting in Pairc Tailteann, a friend offered him a lend of a racing bicycle to take part in a one-mile invitation race. He accepted the invitation and won the race, lapping the rest of the field. Encouraged by his success, he joined the Bohermeen Cycling Club. In 1949, deceased went to work in Dublin, and after two and a half years in the grocery business there, joined the Guinness Brewery. There, he worked in the brewhouse, the cooperage, engineering and fermentation departments, and finally the yeast extraction plant in the by-product section. Mr Heery had an impressive list of achievements, including seven Meath senior championship medals with Navan O'Mahonys, five of them won with the five-in-a-row team between 1955 and '59. He won the 50 miles time trial cycling championships of Ireland, run from Ashtown to Navan and back, in 1951. Ten years later, on the Guinness Cycle Track at Santry Stadium, he won the five miles track championship of Ireland and his time for this, 11 minutes 20 seconds, was a record for many years. Deceased won the Obelisk Wheelers 30-mile massed start race in the Phoenix Park. He was proud of having represented his country on two occasions at this sport. He cycled with the Emerald and St James Gate clubs. A member of the FCA from 1947 to 1951, he holds two medals for the three miles army cycling championship, and won trophies for cross-country running and shot putt. Deceased was vice-president of the Royal Meath Association of Dublin for a period. Mr Heery took up golf around 1970. In 1982, following retirement from Guinness, he moved back to Navan, joining Royal Tara Golf Club which became a home away from home over the next 20 years, only leaving there in the summers where he spent his time in Lahinch, enjoying the golf there. In more recent years, he took up whist and played in Wilkinstown and Kilmessan. Other family members involved in the GAA included his brother, former Meath player Seamus, captain of the 1951 team, and nephew Mick O'Dowd, former captain of the Skryne senior championship team. Deceased was son of the late Patrick and Agnes Heery, and was predeceased by his siblings, Patrick, Tommy, Bill, Mattie, Michael and Eileen. He is survived by his sisters, Ada Murray, Clontarf; Rita O'Brien, St Mary's Park, Navan; Babs Keegan, Ardsallagh; Bernie Moloney, Dublin and Monica O'Dowd, Skryne; brothers, Seamus, Collon, and Joe, Ardsallagh; in-laws, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St Mary's Church, Navan to St Mary's Cemetery. ____________________________________________________________ Frank Cusack, Athboy The death occurred suddenly at his residence of Mr Frank Cusack, Church View, Athboy, on 30th December last. Mr Cusack was a member of an old established family, well known in business and farming in the Athboy area. He is survived by his family, relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St James' Church, Athboy, to Killaconnigan Cemetery, Ballivor, on 2nd January last. ____________________________________________________________ Daniel Duffy, Skryne The death occurred on New Year's Eve of Mr Daniel (Danny) Duffy, Five Roads, Skryne. Mr Duffy died peacefully at his residence, aged 69. Mr Duffy was a son of the late Mary and James Duffy, and was a native of Skryne. He served in the Irish Army from 1958-1979, and served in the Congo and Cyprus. Following his retirement, he lived at Skryne. Deceased is survived by his brothers, Patsy, Oberstown; Seamus, Walterstown; Michael, Skryne; Noel, Kilmessan; Colm, Navan; Owen, Navan; Stephen, Dunsany; Tommy, Dunsany; sisters, Mary Byrne, Garlow Cross; Nancy Jordan, Summerhill; Margaret Quane, Canada; in-laws, uncle, aunt, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his sister, Kathleen. The funeral took place from St Colmcille's Church, Skryne, to the adjoining cemetery, where Mr Duffy was laid to rest with full military honours and a rendition on The Last Post by niece Laura. A months memory Mass will take place in St Colmcille's Church on Saturday 30th January at 10am. ____________________________________________________________ James McGeough, Navan The death occurred last month at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, of Mr James Joseph McGeough (89), Blackcastle Estate, Navan. A native of Ballybay, Co Monaghan, the late Mr McGeough was a mechanical foreman with the Office of Public Works (OPW), initially in Ballina, Co Mayo, for a number of years, and later in Trim, from where he retired in 1985. He was a loving and kind father and a devoted and caring husband. Deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs Philomena McGeough; sons, Francis and Seamus; daughter, Marie; sister, Bernie; daughter-in-law, Bláth; nieces, nephews and grandchildren, Breen, Nathan, Catherine and James. The funeral took place from St Oliver Plunkett Church, Blackcastle, Navan, to St Patrick's Cemetery, Dunshaughlin.