Recent deaths 01-05-10

It is with great regret that we record the passing of Mr Charles S Bird in the United States of America. The Bird family owned Bective House from 1923 to 1960. Mr Bird was a great supporter of racing in Ireland and England for many years. Fort Devon won the Maryland Hunt Cup and was then sent to England to be trained by Fulke Walwyn. He was second in a King George V Chase and then started favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1978. Snow stopped racing on that day and the race was postponed to a later date, by which time the horse had gone off the boil and ran poorly. Other good horses bred by Mr Bird included Gallaher, Dr Leunt, Jazz Musician and Crespino. Deceased was joint master of the Meath Hunt, with Col Charles Cameron, for five seasons in the 1950s. His father, Charles Bird senior, came to Ireland to hunt in the early 1900s, when he stayed regularly at the Club House Hotel in Navan (now the Newgrange Hotel), at that time run by James Mullen. While hunting with the Meath Hounds one day near Bective, his horse ran away on the road and he found himself going up a long avenue that led to Bective House. Some years after this, during the Civil War, the owners, the Stern family, who were Welsh, decided to sell Bective House, and Mr Mullen from the hotel wrote to Mr Bird in America to tell him it was available. Mr Bird, with two friends, Mr Macomber and Mr Tucherman, bought the property for £3,000, and Mr Bird and his wife, Julia, later bought out the full ownership from his colleagues. It was to the Bird family that Tom Lavin, father of famed writer Mary Lavin, came to work at Bective as agent to run the estate. Mr Bird senior knew the Irishman had gone to live in Boston and was working as a taxi driver there. He brought him back to run Bective. When Tom Lavin died, his daughter, Mary and her husband, William Walsh, took over running the property, but when the writer was widowed at a young age, she did not wish to continue managing, and the role was taken over by local man George Briscoe, who had sold Bellinter House, across the river Boyne. He also based the Tara Harriers kennel here for many years. Bective later became the property of Michael Wymes, of the long-running Bula Mine saga, and is now owned by Navan businessman Willie Smith. Mr Bird is survived by his wife, 'Sister'. A memorial service will be held at a later date. _____________________________________________________________ James McFadden, Gibbstown Great sadness was occasioned over a wide area following the recent death of Mr James McFadden, Donegal Road, Gibbstown, Navan, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. He was aged 89. He was a native of Rannafast, Co Donegal, and was a retired farmer. Deceased is survived by his wife, Maureen; sons, Owen, John and Seamus; daughters, Sheila, Anne, Teresa, Mary and Catherine; brothers, Patrick, Joe, Mickey and Neilie; sisters, Sr Catherine, Mary, Bridget and Teresa; sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. His remains were removed to Oristown Church and the funeral took place after the funeral Mass there to Gibbstown Cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Padraig Byrne, Wexford and Navan Mr Padraig (Paud) Byrne, of Silverlawns, Navan, who died on 30th March last, was a native of Thomas Street, Gorey, Co Wexford. Aged 74, he passed away at St Joseph's Hospital, Trim. The retired shipping company director was born in Gorey in November 1935. He was educated at the local Christian Brother schools. After attaining his Leaving Certificate, he joined CIE as a clerical officer. He later followed a career in the freight shipping business, working in Rosslare; Greenore, Co Louth; and Dublin. During his youth in Gorey, deceased was an active and successful player with the Gorey Blues GAA Club and a fine piper as a member of the Gorey Pipe Band. His passion for GAA and particularly his native county's hurlers was immense and this passion was passed on to his sons, daughter and granddaughter. Mr Byrne was a family man at heart and a devoted husband to his wife Nancy (nee Doyle) whom he met during his teenage years in Gorey. They were married for almost 50 years. In his latter years, he lived happily in Navan and became an active member of the community including serving with the Meals on Wheels service, as a member of the Probus Club and working with the parish. He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. Deceased is survived by his wife, Nancy, Navan; son, Declan, Clonsilla, Dublin; daughter, Anne, Holyhead, Wales, granddaughter, Karen Byrne, London, extended family, relatives and friends. The removal took place to St Mary's Church, Navan, for a funeral Mass, and burial took place in St Michael's Cemetery, Gorey, after a prayer service at St Michael's Church on Holy Thursday. ______________________________________________________________ Brian Clarke, Drumconrath Widespread sadness was caused by the recent death of Mr Brian Clarke, Ballymacolgan, Drumconrath, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, following a short illness. A native of Magheracloone, Carrickmacross, Mr Clarke trained as a carpenter before emigrating to England where he was employed at the shipyards in Tyneside. He subsequently lived in Canada for a time prior to settling in Racine, Wisconsin where he was to marry his wife Bridie (nee Keelaghan). The young couple returned to Ireland in 1961 with their young family and settled in Drumconrath where they purchased the farm he would continue to work for the following 50 years. A talented craftsman who could turn his skills to any task, Mr Clarke was wholly dedicated to his family and over the years used his talents to help his family in all manner of things. Full of energy, optimism and a positive outlook, many mourners commented on his so familiar greeting "Any craic?" Fit and active until recently, he was a familiar sight in Drumconrath, whether in his car or tractor, wearing his sun hat and cotton gloves, a sight that now will be sadly missed. Predeceased by his wife Bridie in 1989, and his eldest son Brian Junior in 1975; Mr Clarke is survived by his sons, Charlie and Pat, Drumconrath; daughters, Bernadette Savage, Canada; Eileen Whearty, Dundalk; Mary Clarke, Dundalk; Breedge Malone, Ardee; Donna Mooney, Drumconrath; sons- and daughters-in-law; brother Charlie, Carrickmacross; sisters, Mary Brodigan, Carrickmacross and Alice Kirkham, England; nieces and nephews; 18 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, Conor and Jack. His remains were removed to St Peter and Paul's Church, Drumconrath on Thursday 1st April for Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr Finian Connaughton, followed by burial in Drumconrath Cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Leo King, Laytown Mr Leo King (61), 'Rodona', Laytown, who died recently at his home, was a native of the Drogheda/Laytown area and a retired employee of Coca-Cola Atlantic. Mr King was a son-in-law of the late Jimmy Tully, former government minister and TD for Meath. Deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs Claire King; daughters, Karen and Barbara; grandchildren, Erin, Callum and Canice; brother, Tom, and sister, June Lowthe. The funeral took place from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Drogheda, to Reilig Mhuire, Piltown. ______________________________________________________________ Thomas Tallon, Slane The death occurred suddenly at his residence of Mr Thomas Tallon, Knockmooney, Slane, on 7th April last, aged 42. Mr Tallon worked in architectural and planning services and had an all round love of sports. Son of Kathleen and John Tallon, he is survived, in addition to his parents, by his sister, Madeline Gryson; brother, John; brother-in-law, Anthony Gryson; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Tallon; niece, nephews, extended family and friends. The funeral took place from St Patrick's Church, Slane, to St Erc's Cemetery.