Dr Frank Ledwidge and Joe Ledwidge (right) at the newly-unveiled statue of Francis Ledwidge in Slane, pictured in 2017. Photo: Paul Murphy

Tributes have been paid following the death of Joe Ledwidge, nephew of poet Francis Ledwidge

Tributes have been paid following the death of Joe Ledwidge, nephew of the poet Francis Ledwidge.

Mr Ledwidge, who was 93 and lived at Fennor, Slane died on Saturday at Silverstream Nursing Home, Duleek. He was predeceased by his wife Phyllis and is survived by his nephews Frank and Michael Ledwidge (UK), cousins Nuala O’Reilly (Laytown) and Eithne Gogarty (UK), relatives, friends and neighbours.

His remains will repose at St Joseph’s Chapel of Rest, Old Johnstown, Navan on Tuesday from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. The cortege will pass Joe’s residence and arrive at St Patrick’s Church, Slane at 6.30pm. The funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday at 11an with burial afterwards at the Hill of Slane.

Joe was a great supporter for many years of the Ledwidge Museum Committee’s annual commemoration of the poet. He and his wife Phyllis provided the musical entertainment when the committee organised concerts in the Conyngham Arms Hotel to mark the anniversary of the death of the poet.

At a State commemoration to mark the centenary of Francis Ledwidge’s death held at the museum – Francis Lewidge’s old home – in June 2017, Joe Ledwidge said that he regarded Francis as “a lost uncle” and the lost brother of his father, also called Joe. “My father was in a terrible way about it (Francis’s death)”. Minister Helen McEntee represented the Government at the ceremony which described Ledwidge as “a poet, a patriot and, first and foremost, a proud Meath man”.

Terry Wogan, chairperson of the Francis Ledwidge Museum Committee said that Joe Ledwidge was "an absolute gentleman who lived a wonderful life and we fondly recall many great times that we as a committee shared in his company.”