Obituaries 29-01-2011

The regretted death occurred on 20th December last of Mr Michael Joseph Bennett, better known as Joe, at his residence in Woodlands, Trim Road, Navan. Aged 87, deceased was a native of Nevinstown, and was son of the late Michael and Mary Bennett. A past pupil of the De La Salle Brothers School on Abbey Road, Navan, he played with the De La Salles club in the 1930s and '40s. Following his marriage to Marcella Kelly of Meadstown, Dunderry, he adopted Dunderry GAA club and was honorary president of the Dunderry Club at the time of his passing. A keen Meath GAA supporter, he also enjoyed following the sport of horseracing. Mr Bennett was a construction worker with Roadstone, Slane for 30 years until his retirement in 1986. In his youth, he had worked with various farmers around the Rathkenny and Slane area. The family lived at Stackallen for a period until the mid-1970s. Deceased was also a member of Navan Fianna Fail cumann, and members of the cumann provided a guard of honour at the removal and funeral. Members of Dunderry GAA provided a guard of honour at the burial in Dunderry Cemetery. Mr Bennett is survived by his wife, Marcella; sons, Michael, Balreask Manor, Navan; Declan, Mellifont Park, Drogheda; Mary, Kilcarn Court, Navan; Geraldine, Woodlands, Navan; Marcella, Philpotstown, Navan and Valerie, Elm View, Clogherboy, Navan; grandchildren; great grandchildren; brothers, Jim, Claremorris, Co Mayo; Con, St Albans, England; sisters, Mary McGuirk, Beauparc and Kate Quigley, Dunderry; in-laws; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St Mary's Church, Navan, to Dunderry Cemetery. ___________________________________________________________ Festus Joyce, Killyon Ballivor Horse Show committee has paid tribute to the late Mr Festus Joyce, Killyon, Hill of Down, who passed away unexpectedly on 7th January last. The committee says: “At this time we remember a loyal hardworking member of our committee, Festus Joyce, who died recently. It is hard to think of all Festus did for the organising and running of the show. The first set of fences were made in his barn and he himself did a lot of the work, especially the welding. We are indebted to Festus, Mary and family for storing the jumps, and a lot of equipment from show to show until recent years. He rarely missed a meeting and his knowledge and organisational skills along with hard work contributed greatly to the success of the shows, until recently due to illness. At the time of his death, he was one of the presidents of the show, an honour which he was proud of. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, daughters, family, and extended family.†Mr Joyce is survived by his wife, Mary, daughters, Aine, Fiona, Bernadette, Geraldine, Catherine and Evelyn; eight grandchildren; brothers; sisters; sons-in-law; brothers and sisters-in-law; nephews; nieces; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from The Church of Saint Columbanus, Ballivor, to the local cemetery. ___________________________________________________________ Frances Sully, Lancashire The death occurred on Friday 14th January of Mrs Frances Sully, at Fairfield Geeneral Hospital, Bury, Lancashire, England. Mrs Sully (nee Gartland), was formerly of Kilberry and Bective, and was predeceased by her husband, Michael. She is survived by her sons, John and Bernard; brother, Bernard (Benny); daughters-in-law; sisters-in-law; grandchildren and great grandchildren; nephews; nieces; relatives and friends. The funeral takes place today (Wednesday 26th January) in Bury, Lancashire. ___________________________________________________________ Kathleen Carter, Kentstown There was widespread sadness following the death on 16th January last of Mrs Kathleen (Kitty) Carter, Glen Road, Kentstown, Navan, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. Aged 87, she was a member of the Carey family, Hayestown, Navan, and was wife of the late John Carter, who died in 1988. Mrs Carter was an accomplished award-winning dress maker, and her services were much sought after near and far throughout the county. She was also a very active member of the Kentstown guild of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, and represented the guild in many competitions. Deceased will be remembered as a wonderful mother and grandmother with a kind and caring nature. She is survived by her daughter, Jacqueline Lynch, Balrath; son-in-law, Jim; grandchildren, Claire and Helen; brother, Anthony; sister, Josie; sisters-in-law; nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Kentstown, to the adjoining cemetery. ___________________________________________________________ Michael Meegan, Navan The death occurred on 3rd January last of Mr Michael Meegan, Johnstown, Navan, who worked as a tailor in Navan and was a renowned singer. A native of Academy Street, Navan, deceased was son of the late Patrick and Bridget Meegan. He worked as a tailor in the town under the business name Navan Handcraft Tailors. Mr Meegan hailed from a very musical family and in 1960 formed a music group that became known as The Bridge Folk and performed in many venues around the country. In 1979, he became a founding member of Navan Male Singers who became the resident choir of St Oliver's Church, Navan. The choir competed successfully in many Choral Competitions at home and abroad. He was also actively involved in the church choir attached to Johnstown Parish. About 1970, he teamed up with his friend, Matt Gilsenan. As a duo they performed for forty years. Their music took them to many countries such as America, Switzerland and most recently, Poland.Deceased performed with Matt for the people of Knightsbridge Nursing Home only five weeks prior to his passing. This would be their final performance together. For 25 years, they performed at Our Lady of Sion Convent in Bellinter, which was used as a base for visiting groups from America, under the banner of Elder Hostel Association. During those years, they made many friendships and found themselves welcome visitors to the homes of people in the US who befriended them in Bellinter. In 1999, they released a tape titled 'Ballads of Bellinter'. Mr Meegan performed on many occasions in the National Concert Hall with Tommy Boyle and his young musicians. He was always available at Christmas time for many charitable outings to St Joseph's Hospital in Trim, and was well known all over the county for singing at weddings and funerals. Deceased was of a very happy disposition and always had a friendly word, a smile and time for everyone. He will be remembered as had having a truly beautiful, unique personality, and as a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend, who has left many amazing memories. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; sons Brian, Mark and Michael Jnr; brothers, Brendan, Gerry, and Tony; sisters Pat, Bernie, Nuala and Marie; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nephews; nieces; cousins; relatives and many friends. The funeral took place from St Mary's Church, Navan to Old Kilcarn Cemetery. A month's memory Mass takes place on Friday 28th January, at 7.30pm, in Johnstown Church. ___________________________________________________________ Betty Geraghty, Dunshaughlin The regretted death occurred on 10th January last in her 92nd year of Mrs Betty Geraghty MBE, The Meadows, Dunshaughlin, at her home. Mrs Geraghty (nee Barnett) was predeceased by her husband Michael in 2005. Born in England in 1919, as a very young child Mrs Geraghty moved to Peru with her family where her father ran a zoo. In her teens, she returned to England for a short time to finish her education and, in 1938, she moved with her family to Rangoon, Burma, where her father ran another zoo. The Second World War broke out while they were in Burma and Mrs Geraghty joined the Royal Air Force where she met her husband, Michael Geraghty from Merrywell, Drumree. Mr Geraghty was a consulting engineer and travelled to Burma to work as an engineer. When the war broke out, he enlisted and went on to become Lieutenant-General of the Royal Engineers. The couple married in 1942, just four weeks after meeting. They left Burma to make their way home via India, and it was in Darjeeling that their first daughter, Patricia, was born in 1943. In 1945, their second daughter, Judy, was born in Shilong, India, and the family travelled by ship back to England. Mrs Geraghty's father stayed on in Burma and was awarded an MBE after he led a group through the jungle out of Burma during the war. A well-known zoologist, Dr Barnett discovered an early cure for haemophilia using snake venom. In 1946, the Geraghtys arrived in Ireland and settled in Dublin, raising their five daughters and one son. When she returned home, Mrs Geraghty joined the Burma Star Association and was secretary of the organisation for 35 years. She received an MBE for her work with the association in 1998. Betty and Michael moved to Dunshaughlin in 2002 and celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in 2005, the same year that Michael passed away, aged 98. Having led a remarkable life, Mrs Geraghty's sense of adventure did not wane over the years and just last July, at the age of 90, she fulfilled a personal dream to travel in a hot air balloon, along with her son, Peter. Deceased is survived by her daughters Patricia Toole, Ratoath, Judy Sheridan, Derby, Jenny Prince, Devon, Sally-Anne Geraghty, Kent; son Peter Geraghty, Ratoath; nine grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, son-in-law, and daughter in law. The funeral took place from Culmullen Church to Deansgrange Cemetery.