Lives Remembered: Slane shopkeeper at heart of community and sporting life

Sean Curtis - Rathkenny

Tributes from across the community have been paid to Sean Curtis, Faganstown, Slane, whose family has been synonymous with Rathkenny GFC, and who served as a chairperson of the club. He was proprietor of the Golden Goose grocery store, butcher's shop, and filling station, which was at the heart of community life in Stackallen and sururrounds for decades from the mid-1960s until his retirement. He was aged 82.

It was with profound sadness that Rathkenny GFC and the wider local community learned of the passing of Sean Curtis, the GAA club said in a tribute to its president.

"While everyone knew that Sean had been going through a tough time recently with his health, it was still a great shock to come to the realisation that no more would we see Sean driving into the pitch for a game. It is no exaggeration to say that Sean and his beloved wife Nuala missed only a handful of Rathkenny games over the years. The Curtis name is entwined into the history and fabric of Rathkenny Gaelic football club and that name is carried on today through Sean’s grandchildren, who represent the club right through from Juvenile up to the mens and ladies adult teams."

Sean played with Rathkenny at underage as did his younger brothers Tom, Joe, Brendan, Dermot and Gabriel. He then played minor with the amalgamated Boyne Emmetts. As he graduated from the minor ranks this coincided with a period where Rathkenny did not have an adult team so Sean started his adult career with Slane. However, in 1963 Rathkenny got back up and running, and Sean returned to his home club. While there was no championship silverware during this time, Rathkenny were successful in a number of tournaments, which were a big thing at the time.

After retiring from his on-field exploits, Sean went on to get involved in the administration side of the club, where he carried out a number of important roles with distinction, including that of chairperson. Sean played a big part in fundraising for the club down through the years, especially in relation to the club lotto, where his tireless work continued right up until very recently. At the time of his passing, Sean was a club president.

With Sean marrying Nuala, herself from a staunch GAA family, the Russells from Tullyallen, it was always likely that their children would follow on in the tradition, and so it proved with all seven of their children being involved in some way with the Rathkenny club. A number of the lads also played hurling with Wolfe Tones.

No matter what the game, Sean and Nuala were there, cheering them on. You only had to spend a short time in Sean’s company to see the pride that he had in all his children, in whatever path they had chosen in life. From a sporting point of view a number of the lads represented Meath at underage and adult level in football and hurling, gaining honours in both, including a Leinster minor football championship medal for Edmund; and senior All Ireland B hurling championship medals for both John and Donal. The pride a GAA mad father like Sean must have taken from this and seeing his son Donal win two All Ireland senior football championship medals can only be imagined.

His eldest son, Edmund, followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming Rathkenny club chairperson. Donal had the distinction of leading Rathkenny back to senior football as manager of the Intermediate Championship-winning team of 2023. Sean’s daughter, Bernadette played a leading role in getting a Rathkenny ladies team up and running. In recent years Sean took no greater joy than going to watch his grandchildren play and we are sure he will be following every kick and catch from his lofty perch.

Sean Curtis will be missed by many but the legacy he leaves through his family, will live on, the tribute concluded.

Minister's tribute

Meath East TD and Minister for Education, Helen McEntee, said Seán Curtis was a stalwart of life in Rathkenny and Co Meath, as the chieftain of a large and very well-known family and a pillar of the community where he lived and worked all his life.

"The hallmarks of Seán Curtis were loyalty, reliability and a very strong work ethic," she said in a tribute. "He was a stalwart for his family, for Rathkenny GFC, for the Catholic Church and for many local community organisations. Seán was hardworking in business, raising a large family with his wife Nuala while running their shop in Stackallen. He was always busy, always making things happen, always moving forward.

“Seán loved rural life. He had great interests in rural people, in farming and in wildlife. He was ideally suited to his role as the local shopkeeper, because he was a ‘people’ person. He was great craic – quick witted, a joker and a great storyteller. That humour complemented a big interest in people’s welfare, particularly young people. Seán was a doer in the community – generations benefitted from his activity as a mentor and organizer in the GAA, country sports and other local groups. He had friendships with people of all ages.

She continued: “The sporting interests of their children and grandchildren brought Seán and Nuala all around Ireland and to every pitch in Co Meath. Seán enjoyed every occasion equally – he took as much joy from attending Cuman na mBunscol games as he took from the great 1990s All Ireland final winning days in Croke Park. His great interests in people and in community drew him into politics – he was a leading political activist in the Slane and Rathkenny area for decades. He was a longstanding member of Fine Gael in County Meath, taking a leading role in election campaigns and he was a trusted officeholder and committee member in the Slane-Laytown-Bettystown District. Seán Curtis was a good, loyal and engaging person who lived every day to the hilt. May he rest in peace," the minister concluded.

Seán Curtis died peacefully at home on Friday 21st February last. Predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Mary; brothers Brendan, Dermot and Joseph and daughter-in-law, Kathleen, he is survived by his wife, Nuala; family, Edmund, Thomas, John, Bernadette, Donal, Dermot and Noel; 11 grandchildren, two great grandchildren; brothers, Tom and Gabriel; sisters, Marie, Mildred and Dymphna; extended family; relatives; and a large circle of friends.

His funeral took place from St Louis and St Mary’s Church, Rathkenny, to Rushwee Cemetery.