Recent deaths 19-06-10

Mr William P (Billy) Iceton, who died on 18th May last, was manager of Tara Stud in Skryne for over 50 years, and was prominent in breeding and racing through his involvement with the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and the Curragh Racecourse. He was aged 81. Hundreds of mourners from across the country paid their respects at Tara Stud and at the Funeral Service and burial at St Seachnaill's Church, Dunshaughlin. Born in Cumberland in the Lake District of Britain, Mr Iceton arrived in Skryne via Lincolnshire, with a consignment of horses owned by Clifford Nicholson. Nicholson farmed extensively in the East of England but wanted better land and grazing for his National Hunt horses, looking to Ireland. The young Billy was coming in advance of his father, who was to follow and manage the stud, and he ended up remaining there, eventually taking over himself. That trip in 1946 took him from Liverpool with the 22 horses, across to Dublin's North Wall and then to Drumree on the train, and a walk from there to the stud at Clowanstown. It was very much a farm in those early days, exporting thousands of cattle to England. It was a while before the breeding element came to the fore. The first stallion of significance at Tara was Niccola Del Arca, a half brother to Nearco, regarded as the Sadler's Wells of his day, and one of the great stallions of the early 20th century. Niccola Del Arca came to Tara in the 1940s. From the 1950s, through to the early 1970s, yearlings were brought over from Limestone Stud in Lincolnshire and were looked after at Tara before returning to Britain for sale under the Limestone banner. Eclipse Stakes winner Wolver Hollow, the Champion European Sire of 1976, stood at Tara, and through him the Icetons started to expand their own brood mare band into the 1970s and 1980s. Mr Iceton's son, Derek, returned to Tara around 1984, concentrating initially on the farm and later, in the 1990s, turned more to the horse aspect, bringing in some extra stallions. Many of the stud's winners descend from its 1960s foundation mare Haymaking, winner of the Molecomb and Coronation Stakes. Other high class horses to have been produced at Tara Stud include Wassl (Irish 2000 Guineas), Star Way (champion sire in New Zealand), Thunor (Railway Stakes), Hayloft (Molecomb Stakes), On Tiptoes (Queen Mary Stakes), Pragmatic (Yorkshire Cup), Eichtercua (Curragh Stakes), Very Welcome (Hong Kong Derby), Upper Strata, Trucidator, Favourite Prince (champion in Germany), Rolo Tomasi and Brown Ale. Among the classic sires to have stood at Tara Stud are Champion Stakes winner Umidwar, while Petorius and Simply Great stood there in more recent times, while current stallions are Balmont, Dilshaan and Key of Luck. As the stallion business levelled off in recent years, the Icetons focused more on upgrading their broodmare band, while they also continued to farm cattle and reap corn at Tara Stud. Mr Iceton served as chairman of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association on two occasions, and once as president. During his tenure, he oversaw the amalgamation of the southern breeders' association with the rest of the country, successfully bringing all together under one umbrella. He was also actively involved in the Turf Club, and as a member of the Curragh Racecourse Committee, he oversaw the installation and revamping of the gallops, and served there for a long period. In Dunshaughlin, Mr Iceton served as a church warden with the local Church of Ireland. He was predeceased in 1997 by his wife, Mona, a member of the Sherlock family of Brews Hill, Navan. Her father, Andrew, had been a chairman of Navan Urban District Council, as had her brother, Jack. Mr Iceton is survived by his son Derek, his beloved grand-daughter Serena; Diana and Joanna; sister, Jean; brother, John; brother-in-law; sister-in-law; nieces and friends. ____________________________________________________________ Dickie O'Brien, Drumree The regretted death occurred in late April of Mr Richard (Dickie) O'Brien, Drumree, aged 81. A veteran of the local GAA, he had been honoured by the Meath County Committee's Sean-Gael awards last September and was also part of the Drumree junior championship winning team of 1959 that was celebrated on its golden jubilee last year. Prior to his time with Drumree, Mr O'Brien had played with Dunshaughlin and was a member of their 1956 side beaten by Navan O'Mahonys in the intermediate final replay. He won a JHC medal with that club in 1957. He subsequently won an intermediate medal with Drumree in 1961, when they defeated Slane. Mr O'Brien's late brother, Larry, was a member of the Meath All-Ireland winning senior football panel of 1954, along with fellow clubman Billy Rattigan. In 1960, Larry and Dickie O'Brien, along with their brother, Mattie Russell, and the late Ciaran Murray of Drumree, travelled to the 1960 Olympics in Rome by car in a memorable journey. In later years, he devoted a great deal of time to nurturing the juvenile players of the parish. He was also secretary of Dunshaughlin Boxing Club for a period. Mr O'Brien also enjoyed horseracing and with a group of friends from the locality and Ratoath, attended many fixtures, with a trip to Tramore every year a speciality. Cheltenham was also visited. Deceased was retired from the former Department of Posts and Telegraphs. Son of the late Maria and Paddy O'Brien, deceased is survived by his brother, Patsy; sister-in-law, Mary; niece; nephews; grandnieces; grandnephews; cousins; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St Martin's Church, Culmullen, to Knockmark Cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Mattie Russell, Drumree Widespread regret followed the death of Mr Mattie Russell, Drumree (87), who died suddenly on 9th May last, just two weeks after his brother, Dickie O'Brien. Mr Russell had been prominent in Gaelic football, athletics and boxing in his earlier days, and also had a love of horseracing which he followed enthusiastically with a group of friends. In the early 1940s, he played minor football with Summerhill, followed by a stint with Culmullen, until it disbanded around 1945. Then, with other lads from the area, he played with Erin Go Brath, an 'unofficial' team based in the Dunboyne-Clonsilla area. Suffering a knee injury around 1948, he became involved with Dunshaughlin as a selector and was regarded as a very shrewd and honest selector, remaining with the club for about five years up until 1956. An accomplished cross-country runner, he travelled to Garristown Athletic Club with contemporaries Kit Gannon, Culmullen, Paddy Maguire, Kilmessan and Nicky Kennedy, Garlow Cross, before running clubs were established in Drumree - St Martin's, and Kilmessan. His knee injury put paid to that, and the boxing soon provided an outlet for his sporting talents. In the 1940s, the Hurst brothers, George and Peter, Germans who lived at Lagore, began teaching the art of self-defence to local youngsters. This soon developed to a 'flapper' boxing club, which then evolved into a fill blown club affiliated to the Irish Amateur Boxing Association under local Sergeant Dan O'Connell, with Mr Russell as a boxer and trainer, as well as a 'second' in a boxer's corner. The most prominent boxers to emerge from this club were the 'fighting Foleys', Mattie Russell's cousins, including Christy who became National Boxing Champion in 1950 and attributes a great deal of his success to having Mr Russell in his corner. Deceased, who was welterweight, devoted most of his spare time to training the local boxers, but shunned the limelight for his contribution. Mr Russell worked with Leonards of Culmullen, and later with Foley's Forge, where he worked on the maintenance of Fairyhouse Racecourse. He was a talented mechanic and could turn his hands to plumbing and electric work, and often did when called upon by neighbours around Drumree, and did it all with a good heartedness, never expecting anything in return, and will be remembered as one of nature's gentleman. Son of the late Maria and Mattie Russell, deceased is survived by his brother, Patsy; sister-in-law, Mary; niece; nephews; grandnieces; grandnephews; cousins; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St Martin's Church, Culmullen, to Killeen Castle Cemetery. ______________________________________________________________ Rose Kinsella, Johnstown The regretted death occurred on 31st May last of Mrs Rose Kinsella, Johnstown, Kilcarn, Navan, at the age of 92, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. A member of the O'Neill family of Ladyrath, Wilkinstown, she was wife of the late John Kinsella, who passed away in 1946. Mrs Kinsella had been resident in Rathfeigh Nursing Home for a short few months prior to her passing. She is survived by her son, Sean, Navan; daughters, Nancy Kinsella, Westmeath and Marie Blake, Johnstown; son-in-law, Edward Kinsella; brother, John O'Neill, Navan; sisters, Mary O'Neill, Navan and Bridget Connolly and family, Dublin; grandson Les Kinsella; granddaughter, Michelle Jones, both England; nephew Billy Bowens and family and the Smith family. The funeral took place from the Church of the Nativity, Johnstown, to St Mary's Cemetery, Navan. ____________________________________________________________ Annie Smith, Navan The death has occurred of Mrs Annie Smith (nee Dowdall), at her residence, Old Road, Bailis, Athlumney, Navan, aged 83 years. She is survived by her sons, Thomas, Athlumney; John, Kilbeg; Michael, Navan; daughters, Elizabeth Doherty, Nobber; Bridget McCabe, Garlow Cross; Ann McKenna, Drakestown; Margaret Quinn, Australia; sons-in-law; daughters-in-law; sisters-in-law; brother-in-law; grandchildren and great grandchildren; relatives; neighbours and friends. Mrs Smith was predeceased by her husband, Michael, in 1992. Her remains were removed to the Church of the Nativity, Johnstown, and the funeral took place to St Mary's Cemetery. A month's memory Mass will take place at 7.30pm on Saturday 26th June in Johnstown Church. _____________________________________________________________ Sr Lucille (Gladys) Delany, Drumree and Cabra The death occurred in late February of Sr Lucille (Gladys) Delany OP, aged 90. She was the second youngest of eleven children brought up at Woodtown, Drumree, where her sister Mary, and brothers Ted and Percy, all of whom predeceased her, spent most of their lives. Deceased attended Culmullen National School before going for secondary education to Dominican School, Cabra. She entered the Dominican Order in 1939 and on profession became Sr Lucille. She studied in UCD and spent most of her life in Cabra teaching maths. Sr Lucille served two terms as Prioress. Her gifts lay on the academic side of life rather than the practical and although a farmer's daughter she dreaded lest she be put in charge of the farm. In her latter days she proved to be a very nifty bridge player, as her family was to learn on her regular visits to Woodtown. Her last years were spent in the comfort and care of the Sisters in Santa Sabina House. She is sadly missed by her sister Maeve (Sr Inez OP), her community, nephews, nieces and many of her past pupils who attended her funeral. ______________________________________________________________ Kathleen Geraghty, Dunboyne Mrs Kathleen Geraghty (65) of Paceland, Dunboyne, who passed away at her home on Saturday 29th May last, was wife of the late Noel Geraghty. Deceased was a member of the Hennessy family of Blanchardstown, and in addition to her husband, is also survived by her daughters, Maria and Edel; sons, Brian and Alan; daughter-in-law, Martina; sons-in-law, Patrick and Mark; grandchildren, Daniel, Sean, Adam, Holly and Josh; relatives, neighbours and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of Ss Peter and Paul, Dunboyne, to Rooske Cemetery.