Obituaries 30-04-2011

Four items representing aspects of the life of Mr Paddy Maguire of Kilmessan were brought to the altar of the Church of the Nativity in the village at the start of his Funeral Mass on Easter Sunday - his running boots, representing his success in athletics; his hurl, signifying his achievements on the GAA fields; his memoirs, reflecting his storytelling ability; and flowers from his garden, highlighting his love of nature and landscaping his garden and the village he loved. The most important aspect, his family, was joined by neighbours, friends and relatives, to say farewell to the patriarch of the Maguire family in Kilmessan, who passed away on Good Friday, aged 92. Although suffering ill health in recent times, Mr Maguire remained active, and had attended Sunday Mass in Kilmessan a week before his funeral. His final illness struck last Thursday, and he passed away peacefully the following day. Celebrating his funeral mass, Fr Terence Toner, PP, said that "Paddy Maguire's life was the homily to be delivered today." He was a man who never showed bitterness towards anybody, he never made an enemy, Fr Toner added. This was shown in the crowd that attended Mr Maguire's wake, removal and funeral at the weekend. Deceased was one of a family of nine of Jimmy and Kate Maguire (nee Whelan), of Grangeboyne, Kilmessan, near Bective, and he was predeceased just a month ago by his brother, Kevin, in Dingle, Co Kerry. As young men, Paddy and Kevin Maguire dominated the athletics scene in Meath and North County Dublin, particularly in cross country running. With no club in Kilmessan, they joined Garristown, along with Nicky Kennedy, who married their sister, Molly. They travelled far and near to participate in various sports meetings. Later, Paddy Maguire established a club in Kilmessan. He held numerous cross country medals, and also enjoyed success on the hurling field, and like the majority of players around the village, won senior county championship honours. Five of the Maguire brothers played together on a Kilmessan team at one stage. Deceased's father also played hurling for Kilmessan, and the tradition was carried on by his sons and grandsons. In 1950, he married Mary Sheridan from Cardiffstown, and they went on to have a family of 11. Living at Knocktown originally, they were one of eight families to move into a new terrace of cottages at Swainstown, and in 2005, Mr Maguire hosted a get together at his home in Swainstown to mark the 50th anniversary of the terrace, where all the neighbours, past and present, gathered. He regaled the gathering with stories, as he had done in word and in print for many years. Mr Maguire was often called upon to contribute memories to commemorative match programmes or local events, and enjoyed penning articles for the parish newsletter, the Skane News. Such was his store of tales, that to mark his 90th birthday in 2009, he published 'To Cut A Long Story Short', a book of memories and stories he had gathered over that 90 years, ranging from his early childhood and school days in Kilmessan, time in the Local Defence Forces, characters from around the village and area and histories of mills, fieldnames, working on building sites, and recollections of the Eucharistic Congress of 1932. He was looking forward to next year's Congress in Ireland. He told all the stories in a humorous, self-effacing manner, always highlighting others and never drawing attention to himself. Paddy and Mary Maguire enjoyed trips to Knock and Lourdes, and he was very involved in collecting for the Lourdes Invalid Fund. He was president of St Joseph's Young Priests' Society in Kilmessan, and in later years, acted as church sacristan. Fr Toner recalled how he would entertain the altar servers with stories of his own schooldays when preparing them for Masses. Deceased was very proud of any Maguire family achievement, and was delighted to see his grand-nephew Jason win the recent Aintree Grand National. Mr Maguire worked in the building industry, and early jobs he worked on were in Dublin, including Our Lady of the Wayside Church in Bluebell, Inchicore. Local projects included The Commons, at Killeen, for the Plunkett Fingall family, and Garrettstown House, Dunshaughlin, for the Jameson family, as well as the Department of Agriculture offices on Kells Road, Navan. In the early 1970s, he worked for a number of years at the Salesian College of Agriculture, Warrenstown, and Salesian Fathers, Fr George McCaughey and Fr Tom Kenny, joined Fr Toner for Sunday's Funeral Mass. Predeceased by his wife, Mary, in 2002, Mr Maguire is survived by his family, Maureen Doyle, Drumree, Cyril, Moynalvey, Catherine Clune, Delvin, Teresa Stephens, Kilmessan, Pat, Cardiffstown, Irene Faulkner, Navan, Joey, Swainstown, Bernie Maguire, Navan, Noel, Kilcarty, Imelda Lowndes, Mulhuddart and Malachy, Trim; 33 grandchildren, four greatgrandchildren, brothers, Joe, Tribley, Kilmessan, sister, Kathleen Dunbar, England, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. _____________________________________________________________ Michael Harlin, Kilmessan The death occurred on Good Friday of Mr Michael Harlin, of Finlaghstown, Kilmessan, at the age of 83, following a six-month illness. Mr Harlin was husband of Mrs Kitty Harlin, who was national president of the Irish Countrywomen's Association and a former Meath Personality of the Year. Deceased, who farmed at Finlaghstown, on the Trim-Dublin Road, was a native of Asigh, Kilmessan, son of James and Rose Ann (Nugent) Harlin, and took over the running of the family farm, a mixed enterprise, as a young teenager following his father's death. On his marriage to Kitty Feeney of Cardiffstown, Kilmessan, the couple lived at Bective Station for a period. Having moved to another family farm at Finlaghstown, he built up a substantial dairy farm enterprise from a greenfield site, and the herd of cows was a familiar site for years crossing the Trim-Dublin road at milking times. One of the Offertory gifts brought to the altar at his funeral on Monday was a Michael O'Brien painting of the last time the cows crossed the road there. Michael and Kitty Harlin were actively involved in the establishment of Scurlogstown Olympiad in 1968, and deceased was a great support to his wife in all her activities with the Irish Countrywomen's Association. Deceased was a trustee of Kilmessan Hurling Club and members provided a guard of honour at Monday's funeral. He is survived by his wife, Kitty; sons, Maurice, who is a partner in Sherry Fitzgerald Harlin Farrelly in Navan, and Michael, who is farming at Finlaghstown; grandchildren, Daire, Conor, Aoibheen, Grainne, Jessica, Jamie and Harry; daughters-in-law, Pam and Audrey; son-in-law, Pat Murphy; brother, Johnny, Asigh; sister, Ita, Murray, Dunboyne; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his daughter, Rosanna Murphy, Dunganny, Trim, in 1999, and also by his brothers, Tommy, and in earlier years, Nicholas and Jim. The funeral took place on Easter Monday from the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Kilmessan, to the adjoining cemetery. Fr T Toner, PP, Kilmessan, was the chief celebrant, assisted by Fr MV Daly, a native of the parish, and Fr P Tuffy, Enniscrone, Co Sligo. _____________________________________________________________ Mary Harnan, Moynalvey Two prominent Meath footballing families have been bereaved with the death of Mrs Mary Harnan, Kilmore, Kilcock, on Saturday 16th April last. Mrs Harnan was mother of former Meath footballer and current county selector, Liam Harnan, and aunt of Mick and Paraic Lyons, team mates of Liam Harnan's on the All-Ireland winning teams of the Sean Boylan era. A member of the Lyons family, Mrs Harnan was in her 90th year and died peacefully at her home. Predeceased by her husband, Brian, she is survived by her family, Anne, Bernie, Liam, Paul and Clare; sons-in-law, Brendan, Colman and Eamonn; daughters-in-law, Angela and Brenda; grandchildren; brother, Patrick; sisters, Betty and Phil; in-laws and other relatives. The funeral took place on Monday of last week from the Church of the Nativity, Moynalvey, to the adjoining cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Noreen O'Reilly, Skryne The regretted death of Ms Noreen O'Reilly (34) took place peacefully at her home in Collierstown, Tara, on 25th February last. Deceased was daughter of Fergal and Breda O'Reilly and sister of Ciaran, San Mateo, California, USA; Patricia, Sydney, Australia; Helen, Dunshaughlin; Ann, San Mateo, California, USA; John, San Mateo; Brendan, Half Moon Bay, California, USA; Michael, London, England; Paul and Rosemary, both Collierstown, Tara. She is also survived by brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephew, extended family, relatives and friends. Large crowds attended the funeral from her home in Collierstown, to St Colmcille's Church, Skryne, where Mass was concelebrated by Fr Thomas O'Mahony and Fr David Cahill. A month's memory Mass will be celebrated in St Colmcille's Church, Skryne, on Saturday 30th April at 10am. _____________________________________________________________ Mary Walsh, Ratoath There was widespread regret following the passing on 8th April last of Mrs Mary Walsh, Brownstown, Ratoath, aged 76 years. Wife of the late Paddy Walsh, who died in August 2008, she passed away peacefully at her home. A native of Ratoath, she was daughter of the late Thomas and Bridget Nulty. Deceased retired from farming at Glascarn, Ratoath, in 1996. She was involved in the local guild of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, the Old Hall Committee, and enjoyed hobbies such as bingo and playing cards. Mrs Walsh also took great pride in her garden and keeping her house. She is survived by her family, Frankie, UK; Breda, Ratoath; Brian, Brownstown; Barry, Ratoath; Sandra, San Francisco, USA; Sinead, Clonee; Derek, Lusk, Co Dublin; sons- and daughters-in-law, Ann, Deirdre, Pauline, Niamh, Paddy, Conor and Benny; grand children, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and a wide circle of friends. The funeral took place from Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath to the local cemetery.