Matriarch of Dempsey family

OBITUARY: Maureen Dempsey, Ballivor

A "tower of strength" as a loving wife, a dedicated mother, a much-admired mother-in-law, an affectionate grandmother and great grandmother, and a loyal friend was remembered in Trim when Maureen Dempsey of Lionsden, Longwood, was laid to rest in St Loman's Cemetery.

The matriarch of the family of 12 brothers died on Thursday 11th August, aged 97, less than five years after her husband, Michael, who founded Dempsey Travel and Insurance in Trim.

Originally Maureen Byrne from Doolistown, the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in September 2016, and in a graveside eulogy describing his father as the breadwinner and his mother as the baker, Sean Dempsey said that: "They were together for over 70 years, during which time they kneaded together a legacy and an example of what commitment to family means".

That family extended to her daughters-in-law, 38 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.

Cycling everywhere in the early days of their marriage, Maureen learned how to drive as soon as a family car was acquired, and got her own car in the 1970s, which gave her great independence.

There was always a great welcome for anybody who arrived at Lionsden, a cup of tea and some homemade brown bread, which Maureen continued to make until very recent times. Like many families of their era, they were self-sufficient for fuel, potatoes and vegetables, and kept a pig and a turkey.

After her youngest son was born, Maureen Dempsey took up golf, excelling at it over the next half century, becoming a president of Co Meath Golf Club, Trim. She had a great love of golf, and cherished the many friends she made at the club. She loved to travel to visit family, and it was a bonus if there was to be golf to be played abroad. She played in Australia, Dubai, America, and all over Europe, and travelled to China in her late seventies. She had a number of holes-in-one, including one in Turkey.

During Covid, which she battled and beat twice, she watched Sky Sports Golf daily and was never short of a comment on a golfer’s putting skills - or the lack of them. Naturally, as mother of all the Dempseys, she had a great interest in GAA, and also in recent years, had taken up bowling.

Celebrating her funeral Mass in the Church of St Columbanus, Ballivor, on Sunday, Fr Mark Mohan, PP, Ballivor, described Maureen Dempsey as formidable in many ways. "She had a toughness of exterior with a gentleness of the interior," he said. "In recent years, small in stature, but magnificent in personality."

Fr Mohan, who was joined by Fr Paul Crosbie, PP, Trim, and Fr Gerry Neylon, SSC, Dalgan Park, Navan, recalled her great faith and her generosity to the local parish and church funds, and stories of her "fun and frivolity".

Symbols of Maureen's life brought to the altar included her golf club, a photo of her brown bread, a family photo, a travel voucher, and a plant from her much-loved garden.

The Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, was represented in Ballivor by Comdt Stephen Byrne, while the attendance in Trim included the cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann, Senator Mark Daly.

Fr Warren Collier, CC, Trim, officiated at the graveside, where Cormac Dempsey bade farewell to his grandmother with a rendition of 'There'll be Days Like This’. Members of County Meath Golf Club provided a guard of honour at the church, while Trim GAA club members did so at the cemetery.

Predeceased by her husband, Michael; sisters, Rosie, Sheila, Marcella; and grandsons, Cian and David; Maureen is survived by her sister, Kitty; sons, Frank, Michael, Brendan, Seán, Noel, Martin, Dermot, David, Pauric, Niall, Loman and Ronan; daughters-in-law; grandchildren; great-grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.