Church organist and musical director with deep faith and sense of public duty

OBITUARY: Philomena Boylan-Stewart, Dunboyne, and Knock, Co Mayo

Philomena Boylan-Stewart Dunboyne and Knock, Co Mayo

A woman with a strong sense of community, a duty of public service, a deep faith and a love of music and art was remembered at the funeral Mass in Ss Peter’s and Paul’s Church, Dunboyne, of Philomena Boylan, who died on 24th September last in Mayo University Hospital. The last surviving daughter of the late Sean and Gertie Boylan of Edenmore, Dunboyne, she was aged 83, and had resided in recent years in Knock, Co Mayo. Philomena – ‘Philo’ - was the second wife of the late Brigadier General John Stewart of Woodford, Co Galway, who was OC of the Western Command, and a veteran of the Congo, Cyprus and the Middle East with the United Nations. Their marriage was sadly short-lived, as Mr Stewart died a short few years after they wed. Philo then divided her time between Meath and Mayo, moving to live in Knock in later years to be near the Marian Shrine there as she had a particular devotion to Our Lady.

She was very proud to have had a front row seat at the Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II at Knock in 1979, as her husband was in charge of all the security arrangements for the papal visit to the west of Ireland at the time. She never lost touch with her native Dunboyne and what was happening there, continuing to maintain an interest in the people and happenings through family, friends and neighbours.

Philo lived at various times in Longwood, Dunshaughlin, and Dunboyne, before returning to the west of Ireland. Philo always remained in contact with close family and distant relatives, and was a good friend to many. She also had a very strong connection to the Columban Fathers at Dalgan Park, Navan, as organists and director of music there for many years, with a great devotion to St Columbanus, and was choir director in Dunboyne parish church for some time too. Parts of her funeral Mass being sung were written by Philo as the Mass of St Columban, and the final commendation, Dies Irae, sung by her nephew, Sean, was written by her for the funeral of her twin sister, Frances Nugent of Athhlumney Navan, when she died in 2008. Philo was a very talented and creative person, and a great artist, which showed up in her calligraphy, crochet work, and art.

She was also a woman of principle - everything had to be correct and by the book, she didn’t accept mediocrity or half measures, and all etiquette and protocols had to be adhered to.

But she was also a very sociable person, and good play a good hand of cards. For some years, she organised the North East Natural Health Day promoting alternative therapies, and was also a member of the committee of St Mary’s Musical Society for a period.

Politically, she campaigned for Fine Gael and in particular for the late Taoiseach and Dunboyne neighbour, John Bruton.

Philo was also involved in the Meath Peace Group which met at Dalgan Park, and her stepdaughter, Julitta Clancy, a founder of the peace group was among those who read prayers at her funeral Mass in Dunboyne.

The Mass was celebrated by Fr Patrick O’Connor, PP, Dunboyne, assisted by Fr Alo Connaughton, SSC, Fr Pat Raleigh, SSC, and Fr Padraig O’Donovan SSC, of Dalgan Park.

Burial followed in the Boylan family plot in Loughsallagh Cemetery, Clonee. Philo was predeceased by her sisters, Frances, Gemma, Pauline and Josephine, and is survived by her brother, Seán, Edenmore, Dunboyne; brothers-in-law, Michael, David and Jim; sister-in-law, Tina, the extended Stewart family, nephews, nieces, wider family, relatives and friends.