Recent deaths 03-07-10

Paddy O'Brien would have been proud of last Sunday's performance by the Meath team, and the Navan O'Mahonys players in particular, in the clash with Dublin in the Leinster championship semi-final at Croke Park. Sadly, just over a week after taking ill, the Navanman passed away on Saturday night, and was honoured with a minute's silence at GAA headquarters on Sunday, a tribute befitting a man who had dedicated a lifetime to developing the skills of Navan O'Mahony's juvenile players. Also remembered on Sunday at Croke Park was Lt Gen Dermot Earley, the former chief of staff of the Defence Forces and Roscommon All-Star footballer, who was buried in Kildare on Saturday, and the late Drogheda native Peter Farrell, who lived in Bellewstown. An emotional Stephen Bray dedicated his man of the match award to Paddy O'Brien on RTE television on Sunday night after the Meath-Dublin game. He said that any Navan O'Mahony's player who is on the Meath panel, or was on it over the past 30 years, owed a debt of gratitude to him. "I know he was looking down on us today. Words can't adequately reflect what he has done for Navan O'Mahonys as a club, and for me as a player," he said. Mr O'Brien's long association with Gaelic football and hurling began in 1955 when he became secretary of the local De La Salle club. He grew up on Abbey Road and was encouraged to get involved in the club by his parents, Pat and Molly. He had played very little, but was very interested in the games for a few years before he got involved. His brother, Martin, captained the 1956 'Salles' side that won the MFC title when the Delany Cup was presented for the first time. Brother Celestine of the old De La Salle school prompted Paddy O'Brien's initial involvement. In an interview two years ago, he recalled cycling to Croke Park, and venues such as Athy, Mullingar and Newry to see Meath teams in action. "I don't know what kind of a life I would have had without Gaelic games," he said in August 2008. "I loved working with young people, there's nothing to beat being with underage teams and I have met some great people, players and club mentors down the years. I wasn't a great mixer and the GAA opened up a whole new life for me." Mr O'Brien remembered that it was tough going to keep a club going, depending on small draws, and he was always a great believer in player welfare, collecting money to make sure injured players weren't out of pocket. In 1962, De La Salle, the nursery for O'Mahonys, brought off the minor football and hurling championships double. In 1989, after the departure of the De La Salles from Navan in the eighties, the club was subsumed into Navan O'Mahonys. Tom Fitzsimons and Seamus Heaney, both of whom have since passed away, Eamonn Giles and Joe Cassells were among the best of the young players he put through his hands, he said in the 2008 interview. Mr O'Brien served two years as county juvenile board secretary, in 1978 and '79. In 2007, he received a Volunteers in Irish Sport Award from the local sports partnership, accepting it on behalf of all the people who worked with him over the years. He was on the officerboard of Navan O'Mahonys Juvenile GAA club as PRO up to the time of his passing. Last year, when Navan Town Centre sought suggestions for somebody to name the Kennedy Road-Abbey Road link after, it was Paddy O'Brien who came out on top. Mr O'Brien worked with the Post Office, and gave close on 50 years service, from 1946 until 1995. These were almost all spent in Navan, apart from a three year spell in Kells, where he also served as postmaster. He recalled delivering telegrams by bicycle in the 1950s. He recalled hundreds of congratulatory telegrams often had to be delivered to Dalgan Park following Columban ordinations. Deceased received invaluable support from his wife, Mairead over the years, while his daughter Mary followed in his footsteps, becoming O'Mahonys juvenile secretary, and son Padraig is involved in underage hurling teams. Mr and Mrs O'Brien were 50 years married in the week prior to his taking ill. Mr O'Brien (79) has been reposing at his Moatville, Navan, home for the past two days, when hundreds of people paid their respects, and his remains were removed to St Mary's Church, Navan, yesterday (Tuesday) evening. His remains were carried from Navan O'Mahony's Club at Brews Hill by adult members of the club, while the juvenile members provided a guard of honour. Burial takes place in St Mary's Cemetery today (Wednesday) following 10am Mass. He is survived by his wife, Mairead; daughter, Mary; son, Padraic; grandchildren, Kelly, Shane and Colin; daughter-in-law, Ciara; brother, Martin; sisters, Sheila and Mary; sisters-in-law, Kitty and Sheila; brother-in-law, Christy; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Cllr Shane Cassells this week paid tribute to Paddy O'Brien for all the work he did with so many generations of young people with the underage teams in Navan O'Mahonys. "Men like Paddy O'Brien are rare and there is literally nobody else in the town that has been able to leave such an impression on so many generations of families," the Navan councillor who himself experienced Mr O'Brien's guidance, said. "People talk about Obama and his inspirational speeches - Paddy O'Brien was ten times more inspirational and he didn't need half the amount of words. "His love of football was obvious but his greatest gift was the way he tried to get the best out of every young lad that went through the underage structure in O'Mahony's - no matter what their ability. He gave so many people a love of Gaelic games but he was also keenly aware of building young men of good character. It was a sad moment to stand for the minute's silence for him in Croke Park on Sunday but it was never more deserved for a man who gave his entire life to the GAA." _____________________________________________________________ Mona Cribbin, Summerhill Mrs Mona Cribbin (nee Quinn), Agher, Summerhill, who died on 25th April last at St Elizabeth's Nursing Home, Athboy, was wife of the late Paddy Cribbin. She is survived by her family, Gabriel, Dermot, Annette Knarr, Marion Carey, Padraig and Shane; sister, Dolly; brother-in-law; daughters-in-law; sons-in-law; grandchildren; great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, wonderful neighbours and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Coole, to the adjoining cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Margaret Froening, Trim The death occurred last week of centenarian Mrs Margaret Froening, Avondale, Trim, who marked her 100th birthday in December 2008. Wife of the late Fred, Mrs Froening (nee Ahrndt) was formerly of Bundoran, Co Donegal, and passed away at Elmhurst Nursing Home in Glasnevin, in her 102nd year. Originally from Germany, Mrs Froening lived in Trim for almost 30 years and moved to Dublin to be closer to her daughter, Christa. The former German Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Christian Pauls, attended the celebrations to mark her 100th birthday in December 2008, making a very thoughtful speech, and Mrs Froening also received best wishes from President Mary McAleese. She had looked forward to her centenary and enjoyed the event immensely. Her family, including grandchildren and great grandchildren, flew from Germany, America and Canada to celebrate her 100th birthday with her, as well as neighbours and friends from Trim and Sligo. The Funeral Service took place on Friday last at the Glasnevin Crematorium Chapel. _____________________________________________________________ Veronica Nulty, Slane The death occurred on 15th April last of Mrs Veronica (Nan) Nulty, Bryanstown, Slane, after a short illness bravely borne. Wife of the late Den, she was a member of the Balfe family. Mrs Nulty is survived by her family, Christy, Ann, Leo, Dolores and Fr Denis; daughters-in-law, Josephine and Bernadette; 13 grandchildren; sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends and neighbours. The funeral took place from St Patrick's Church, Slane, to St Erc's Cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Geraldine O'Flynn, Navan There was great sadness over a wide area at the recent death of Geraldine O'Flynn of 'Auburn', Balreask Old, Navan at the age of 49, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. A member of the well known McLoughlin family of Kilcarn, she was married to Des O'Flynn. A daughter of the late Loey and Nancy McLoughlin, her brothers played with Walterstown GFC and her father was a former chairman of the club. Her husband, Des, is a former president of Navan Rugby Football Club and their sons David and Adam play for the Balreask Old club. Deceased is survived by her husband, Des; sons, David and Adam; daughters, Eimear and Kate; brothers, Liam, Gerry, Kevin, Noel and Joe; sisters, Ann, Margaret, Benie, Angela and Elaine; uncle, Christy and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Paddy and sister, Marion. Her remains were removed to the Church of the Nativity, Johnstown and the funeral took place to Old Kilcarn Cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Kathleen Walker, Dunshaughlin The sudden death occurred on 11th June last at Wexford General Hospital, of Mrs Kathleen (Katy) Walker, Supple Hall, Dunshaughlin, and late of Athronan, Dunsany. Mrs Walker (79) was a member of the Wall family of Athronan and was predeceased by her husband, James, in 1963. She is survived by her daughters, Anne Walker Byrne, Dunshaughlin, and Patricia Boland, Navan; sons-in-law, Benny Byrne and Michael Boland; sister, Brigid Summerfield, Kent, England; grandchildren, James and Katie Boland and Niall, Cormac and Meadhbh Byrne, and extended family. Mrs Walker was a member of Dunsany's Horace Plunkett ICA Guild and Dunshaughlin senior citizen's Friday Morning Club, which held a special Mass in her memory on Friday morning last. Her remains were removed to the Church of the Assumption, Dunsany, and burial took place in the adjoining cemetery following Funeral Mass there. A month's memory takes place in Dunsany on Saturday 10th July, at 6pm.