Obituaries 23-06-2012

James McGrath, Navan There was widespread sadness following the passing of Mr James (Jim) McGrath, Farganstown, Navan, after a long illness borne with courage and dignity, in the care of Woodlands Nursing Home, Navan. Born on 1st November 1929, deceased was son of the late John and Anne McGrath, and was a very popular, well known and highly respected man in the community. Mr McGrath was a caring son, brother, uncle and very loyal friend, and a good neighbour who was always at hand when needed. He worked for many years for John Spicer and Company until retirement in 1994. A lover of all sports, he was a great follower of dog racing, horse racing, Gaelic football, and was a long time member of Royal Tara Golf Club. He enjoyed a weekly game of poker with friends on Friday nights. He is survived by his brother, Jack; sisters, Phil and Angela; nieces; nephews; grandnephews; grandnieces; cousins; neighbours and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of the Nativity, Johnstown, to St Mary's Cemetery. A month's memory Mass will take place on Saturday evening next, 23rd June, at 7.30pm in Johnstown Church. ___________________________________________________________ Rose O'Riordan, Drumree and USA A Memorial Mass to celebrate the life of the late Ms Rose O'Riordan, late of Woodtown, Drumree, will be held in St Martin's Church, Culmullen, on Saturday next, 23rd June, followed by burial of her ashes in the family plot at Culmullen. Ms O'Riordan died in America, where she had been based for the past three decades, on 25th May last. She died unexpectedly at Chilton Hospital, New Jersey, aged 69. Deceased worked in classified sales in the Irish Times before obtaining a scholarship to study sales in Oklahoma, where she also lectured on the sales technique and practices in Europe. She then worked with a newspaper in in Oklahoma City and after some years moved to Boston where she worked for two years for the Boston Herald. She then worked for two years for the Denver Post in Colorado before taking up a position with the New Jersey Media Group, where she was classified sales manager, and lived in Bloomingdale. Deceased was a parishioner of St Anthony RC Church, Butler, and a member of its choir. She was a member of Toastmasters and the Morse Lake Community Book Club. Having been a founder of the St Patrick's Day Parade in Oklahoma City, she was delighted to be invited back to be grand marshal of the Parade in the early 1990s. She was a regular visitor home to Drumree when she would also meet with her former Irish Times colleagues, and kept in touch all the time with them. She is survived by her sister, Marie, and brothers, Fr Des and Neil; sister-in-law, Betty; nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives and friends in the US and Ireland. In New Jersey, a service was held at the Morrison Funeral Home, Butler, followed by Mass at St Anthony RC Church. The Memorial Mass at St Martin's Church, Culmullen, is at 12 noon on Saturday, and her ashes will be laid to rest with her parents, Daniel and Margaret, in Culmullen Cemetery. ___________________________________________________________ Paddy Hiney, Trim Mr Paddy Hiney, Tower View, Trim, who has died, was aged 88 and a native of Ballivor. He died after a short illness on 11th April, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. Deceased lived and worked in England for many years and returned to Trim in 1990. He enjoyed long walks in Coolronan Bog with his dog, Rover. Mr Hiney loved reading and had a keen interest in electronics. He watched all sports. He is survived by his wife, Bernadette; brothers, Pierce, Ballivor and Jimmy, Dublin; sisters, Ettie Sherry, Naas, and Gertie Costello, Kinnegad; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nephews; nieces; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St Patrick's Church to St Loman's Cemetery, Trim. ___________________________________________________________ Imelda Keating, Navan The passing of Mrs Imelda Keating, Ardsallagh, Navan, and Willow Park, Glasnevin, on 3rd June last, was the source of considerable sadness. She passed away, aged 86, at her daughter's residence in Churchtown, Arva, Co Cavan. Mrs Keating (nee Mulligan) had a love of Gaelic football and enjoyed a game of cards with her grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Joe, in August 1996, and is survived by her son, Gerry; daughter, Siobhan White; brothers, Joe and Hugh; sister, Sr Imelda, Cornwall; daughter-in-law, Carolyn; son-in-law, Michael; grandchildren, Robert, Molly, David and Joe. The funeral took place from St Mary's Church, Navan, to Cannistown Cemetery. ___________________________________________________________ Tommy Rispin, Athboy The death occurred on 7th June last of Mr Tommy Rispin, former proprietor of The Cosy Corner public house in Athboy, undertaker and farmer. Aged 84, he died at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. A native of Ballybrittas, Kildalkey, Mr Rispin lived at Meadowlands, Athboy. His wife, Mary (nee Shaw), passed away in December 2004, and he is survived by his daughters, Marie Rispin, Athboy, Ann Collins, Athboy, Liz Rispin, Kildalkey; sons, Tom, London, and Paul, Chicago; son-in-law, Willie; daughter-in-law, Michelle; grandchildren, Niamh, Ailish, Laura, David, Jake, Amy, Amber, Aidan, Raine, Cole and Lexie; sister-in-law, Betty; brothers-in-law, Matt and Phil; nieces; nephews; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St James' Church, Athboy, to Kildalkey Cemetery. A month's memory Mass takes place in Athboy on Thursday 5th July, at 8pm. ___________________________________________________________ Micheál Ennis, Dunshaughlin There was considerable sadness following the passing of Mr Micheál (Hall) Ennis, College Grove, Dunshaughlin, in his 90th year. Formerly of Fairyhouse Road, Dunboyne, he died on 7th June last at Connolly Hospital, Navan, following a short illness. Deceased was a keen gardener all his life, and grew all his vegtables and flowers from seed. He loved all types of music, especially traditional Irish, and played the accordion and mouth organ. Mr Ennis is survived by his wife, Mona (nee Englishby); daughters, Eileen, Spain, Patricia, Leixlip; Therese, Gorey; and Caroline Australia; sons, Michael, Scotland, and Padraic, Dunshaughlin; sister, Sheila, Santry; grandchildren, Alan, Michael, Bryan, Daniel, Steven, Juliette, Jade, Leah and Ross; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, nieces and nephews, neighbours and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of Ss Patrick and Seachnall, Dunshaughlin, to the local cemetery. ___________________________________________________________ William McGuirk, Navan Tributes were paid at last week's Meath GAA County Committee meeting to the late Mr William (Willie) McGuirk, Navan, who was an accomplished player with Navan O'Mahonys, and enjoyed a period on the Meath team. Mr McGuirk, of Old Balreask, Dublin Road, Navan, passed away peacefully in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, on 29th May last. An outstanding left full-back, deceased gained seven Meath senior fotball championship medals with Navan O'Mahonys, a total not bettered by many footballers in the county through the decades. He was a substitute when O'Mahonys became the first holders of the Keegan Cup when the team captained by Tony McCormack defeated Trim in the final. The Navan side went on to dominate the championship with a remarkable five-in-a-row sequence of success between 1957 and '61. Mr McGuirk was in the number four jersey for all five triumphs and had the distinction of being the winning captain in 1958 when great rivals of the time, Skryne, were defeated in the replayed final at Kells. The reliable corner-back who was also on four Feis Cup winning teams, earned his seventh SFC medal when O'Mahonys defeated St Vincent's of Ardcath in the final. He played senior football for Meath for the best part of a decade but did not enjoy near as much success on the inter-county front as on the club scene. After representing the Royal county at minor and junior levels in 1954 and '55, he made his senior debut in a National League game in the autumn of 1955. Meath lost to Dublin in Leinster finals in the minor and junior grades in the respective years and deceased lined out in another final in 1956 when Cork were narrow 0-8 to 0-7 winners in the National League decider. He was a member of Meath's senior panel up to 1964 and was a substitute that year as the Leinster SFC title was regained after a lapse of 10 years. His son, Fergal, played underage and senior football with O'Mahonys. Later he played with Navan Rugby Club. Mr McGuirk's nephew, Kenny McGuirk, captained O'Mahonys to their 1997 senior championship success. Deceased's brother, Sean, was a member of the Meath All-Ireland winning MFC panel of 1957.