Obituaries 24th May 2014
Paddy Mulreid, Dunboyne
Dunboyne AFC is mourning the loss of its club president, Paddy Mulreid, who passed away peacefully on 21st March last. Paddy Mulreid had a profound effect on Dunboyne AFC and had been involved with the club from the early years of its establishment. He was an enthusiastic, well liked man who was passionate about Dunboyne Football Club and the importance it had in the community.
A man who held many positions in the club from manager to president and who always gave his all to ensuring the future of the club, Paddy Mulreid was very involved with fundraising and was also behind the idea of establishing the very first lottery in Dunboyne for the club’s benefit. He was very dedicated to this and sold tickets weekly.
Some of Paddy’s proudest moments include Dunboyne AFC purchasing their own site for the development of the club. Watching his children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren playing and managing football for Dunboyne on their own grounds; and in more recent years, winning the award from the FAI Aviva Club Of The Year and having the honour to accept this from football legend Pelé in 2009; and the crowning glory, the award for the UEFA Grassroots Bronze Medal Club Of The Year in 2010.
A man who gave his utmost towards his passion in life, Paddy Mulreid will be sorely missed by all at Dunboyne AFC. His dedication and loyalty to the club will always be appreciated and remembered. He is survived by his beloved wife, Carmel and children, Paddy, Ann, Jane, Helen, Pauline and the late Tom. Ar Dheis Dé Go Raibh A Anam. - Dunboyne AFC
Agnes Meade, Castletown
The peaceful death occurred on Wednesday of last week of Castletown centenarian, Agnes Meade, who turned 100 in January. Mrs Meade had been resident in Kilmainhamwood Nursing Home for the past two years, and before that had lived in the lodge at the gate of the Meade home at Paiunstown, Castletown.
She was mother of well-known National Hunt horse trainer Noel Meade. Originally a member of the Halpin family from Nobber, Mrs Meade moved to Castletown when she married farmer Patsy Meade. The couple had six children Eithne, Hylda, Anne, Noel, Dorothy and Ben.
The centenarian was a lifelong member of Nobber ICA. Mrs Meade celebrated her 100th birthday at a gathering with family and friends at Kilmainhamwood Nursing Home in January.
She was predeceased by her husband Patrick, in 1984, She is survived by her family, Eithne, Hylda, Anne, Noel, Dorothy and Ben; daughter-in-law, Vivienne; sons-in-law, Mark, Paddy, Andrew and Jonathan; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives and friends.
Large crowds attended the funeral from St Patrick’s Church, Castletown KP, to the local cemetery.
Mary Elliott, Garlow Cross
There was great sadness following the death at the age of 98 of Mary Elliott, Gerrardstown, Garlow Cross, Navan, at Knightsbridge Nursing Home, Trim, on 3rd April last.
Formerly of Stackallen, Navan and Grangegeeth, Slane, she was a member of the Grimes family and was predeceased by her husband, Jack Elliott in 1975.
Born to a farming background in 1915, Mary learned the art of self sufficiency. She lost her mother suddenly at the age of six and moved contrastingly to Phibsboro. There she bore witness to the funeral of Michael Collins while also recalling tales of the Black and Tans. Her father remarried and her family was reunited in Stackallen. Her childhood there was filled with fond memories. Mary completed her second level education in the technical school in Navan. She was a devout Catholic which she practised in her everyday life while working hard for her family and friends on their farm.
Mary later married Jack Elliott and moved to Grangegeeth where they went on to raise their three children. She was well known in the area for her hard work, kindness and generosity. She cared for many of her neighbours and friends and never turned away anyone in need.
In Mary’s twilight years she moved to Gerrardstown to live with her daughter. There she became affectionately known to anyone visiting, relative or not, as ‘Granny’.
Mary loved and lived for her family and proudly lived to see her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She did not shy away from socialising, attending bingo in venues throughout the area right into her nineties. Mary’s life touched so many and made a lasting impression on all those who knew her and will be sadly missed by all of her friends and family.
She was predeceased by her parents, brother, Eddie Grimes; husband, Jack; and grandson, Karl Davis. She is survived by her daughter, Lily Davis, Gerrardstown; sons, Tom and Jim Elliott, both Grangegeeth, Slane; son-in-law, Gerry Davis; daughters-in-law, Pauline and Mary Elliott; grandchildren, Sharon, Ruth and Rory, Helen, John, Owen, Karen, June, Mark; eight great grandchildren; nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
The funeral took place from St Brigid’s Church, Grangegeeth, to the adjoining cemetery.
Jim Fay, London
The regretted death occurred in London on 28th April last, after a long illness, of Jim Fay, late of Windtown, Navan, aged 75. He worked in Moran’s Furniture Factory before emigrating to England.
He will be fondly remembered by his friends and relations in London, Navan, and Wicklow. He is survived by his son, James; daughter, Emma; brother, John; sisters, Peggy; sister-in-law, Catherine; nephews and nieces.
The funeral took place at the Holy Ghost and St Stephen’s Church, Shepherd’s Bush, London. A month’s memory Mass will take place in St Mary’s Church, Navan on Sunday 1st June at 1pm.
Greg Hughes, Tipperary
Greg Hughes, the former Offaly footballer who died suddenly last week, won two Meath senior county championship medals with Gaeil Colmcille of Kells. He passed away on Thursday at his home in Lorrha, Co Tipperary, aged 75.
Originally a garda, he was later involved in promoting showbands when he lived at the Rockfield Road, Kells in the 1960s. He was on the Kells teams that won the Keegan Cup on two occasions, in 1966 and 1968.
Deceased was a native of Cloghan in Offaly. He was the central cog in a celebrated Offaly full-back line of the Sixties also comprising Paddy McCormack and John Egan, and loved to display the skills of high catching, long kicking and fair tackling, but was always underpinned with a burning desire to win.
The trio orchestrated Offaly’s first Leinster senior football success in 1960 against Louth and later faced up heroically on four occasions against the all conquering Down team, drawing in their first All-Ireland semi-final before losing the replay – and then suffered a similar fate in the 1961 final when they narrowly failed in front of a record 90,556 fans at Croke Park. They would later have a measure of revenge in winning the Grounds Tournament final of that year against the same opposition.
Greg Hughes made the full-back position his own from 1959 and was a fixture up to 1971, the year Offaly would go on to win the Sam Maguire for the first time.
Having picked up a third Leinster medal in 1969, he suffered the agony of defeat at the hands of Kerry in that year’s All-Ireland final, but was still part of the panel two years later when Offaly beat Galway by 1-14 to 2-8 in the All-Ireland final.
He won three Railway Cups with Leinster, one as captain in 1962. His two Meath championships Gaeil Colmcille’s, were as a centre-forward in ‘66 and then at full-forward when he collected his second Keegan Cup medal in early ‘69 for the previous year’s championship.
Deceased began his career outside football as a garda in Kinnegad and later managed dance bands in the music business before excelling in the banking world.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; son, Gregory; daughters, Eimear, Trini, Aoife and Niamh; sister, Eileen and a large circle of family and friends. His funeral took place in Lorrha on Monday of this week.
Ann Ratty, Navan
The peaceful death occurred on 21st April last of Ann Ratty, Kilcarn Court, Navan at her home. She was aged 63. A native of Kells, Ann was a member of the Tormay family of Suffolk Street. She moved to Navan in 1970 when she married Paddy Ratty. They went on to have four children, all of whom live in the Navan area.
Ann worked for many years in Navan. She worked in both the Ardboyne and Newgrange Hotels where she made many lifelong friends. She also spent many years as a carer in Clann Mor (formally St Oliver’s Centre) on the Commons Road. She was renowned for her kind and caring nature and as someone who was always willing to help others in every walk of life.
Ann ended her working life in Welch Allyn as a canteen co-ordinator where she worked until the start of her illness. She will be fondly remembered as a dedicated hardworking lady who had a wonderful sense of humour which endeared her to everyone.
She lived for her family, and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She loved spending time with all her family, including her 11 grandchildren. She was a great friend and confidante to many, had a beautiful warm personality and a welcoming nature which will be sadly missed. Her death has left a huge void in her entire family.
Ann had a great faith and it was this faith that gave her and her family strength throughout her illness. She lived a good life showing generosity to neighbours, friends and family and she will be greatly missed by the entire community.
Ann is survived by her husband, Paddy; daughters, Martina and Theresa; sons, Mark and Ken; daughters-in-law, Lavinia and Christina; son-in-law, Adrian; Theresa’s partner, Shane; grandchildren, Tadhg, Kirstyn, Kian, Josh, Orla, Tim, Caitlin, Aoibhinn, Mark, Jacob and Ellie; sisters, Cella, Dymp, Nora, Liz, Ger and Antoinette; brothers, Arthur, Mathew, Bob, Michael and Martin; sisters- and brothers-in-law and her nieces and nephews. Ann was predeceased by her sister, Mary, and her parents, Nancy and Matt.
Her funeral mass was celebrated by Fr Andy Doyle, PP, Bohermeen, in St Mary’s Church, Navan, with burial afterwards in Kilcarne Cemetery.
Margaret McArd, Isle of Man
The regretted death occurred on 28th March last of Margaret Veronica McArd, Copse Hill, Douglas, Isle of Man, at Nobles Hospital, Douglas, aged 74 years.
Deceased was a member of the Bennett family of Ardbraccan, Navan, daughter of the late John and Nancy Bennett.
She went to the isle of Man as a young girl where she trained as a nurse in Noble’s Hospital. She met and married her husband Keith there, and had three children. Her wishes were to return to Ireland to be buried with her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Keith McArd; family, Gary, Nicola and Paul; brothers, Sean and Seamus Bennett, Grange, Bohermeenn, Navan; and Kieran Bennett, Castleknock, Dublin; and sisters, Marie Mulligan, Canada, Phyllis Harford, Liscarton, Navan, Carmel Maher, Offaly and Patricia Mulvany, Ardbraccan.
The funeral Mass took place in Bohermeen Church on 13th April, followed by burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
Olga Fox, Kells
Olga Fox of Kells, who died peacefully at Woodlands Nursing Home, Navan, on Tuesday of last week, was wife of the late Meath Chronicle reporter and columnist, Garret Fox.
Mrs Fox (nee Ryan), who was 88, was formerly of Griffith Avenue in Dublin, and was married to the writer of ‘My Royal Meath Album’, a famous column which ran for over 25 years. A stylish lady, she was involved in many activities around Kells, particularly golf at Headfort Golf Club, where she served as both lady captain and lady president. She also was a member of the bridge club there.
She was predeceased by her husband in February 1983, and by her siblings, Frank, Eileen, Vincent and Noel; and is survived by her sister, Dorothy; sisters-in-law, Siobhan, Sylvia and Ida; nieces; nephews; relatives and friends.
The funeral took place from St Colmcille’s Church to St Colmcille’s Cemetery on Thursday last.