Obituaries 29-09-2012

Sean Kelly, Navan The death of Mr Sean Kelly, Boyne Valley, Slane Road, Navan, on 25th August last, was the source of widespread regret. Aged 71, deceased was a native of Flower Hill, Navan, and worked with Eircom for 40 years. He was a keen golfer and a member of Headfort Golf Club and Fox's Golf Society. Mr Kelly enjoyed all sports, particularly Gaelic football, following Navan O'Mahonys; soccer, supporting Navan United and Posts and Telegraphs teams; badminton, and later, golf. Following retirement from Eircom, deceased worked as a driver with Rehab. Mr Kelly is survived by his wife, Josie; daughter, Sheila; sisters, Girtie Lynch and Annette Rogers; granddaughters, Emily and Erin Kelly-Leahy; and son-in-law, Joseph Leahy. The funeral took place from St Oliver's Church, Navan, to St Mary's Cemetery. ________________________________________________________ Eamon Cleary, New Zealand and Kentucky, USA The death occurred at the weekend, in Kentucky of Mr Eamon Cleary, the Monaghan-born businessman and benefactor who owned the former St Martha's College in Johnstown, Navan. Mr Cleary, who was based in New Zealand in recent years, owned a horse stud in Kentucky, and was named the eighth wealthiest New Zealander by NBR in July with $1.2 billion. He is understood to have been diagnosed with cancer about six months ago. Born in 1960, in County Monaghan, Mr Cleary left school when he was 11 years old and worked on his father's small farm. Four years later he was apprenticed to a block layer and at 17 started his own building business. Three years later he began a pre-cast concrete and reinforcing steel company and continued with his building business. Mr Cleary married when he was 24 and went on to develop one of the largest agricultural supply businesses in Ireland, which he sold in 1991. He later had business interests in New Zealand, Australia, eastern and western Europe, the United States, Argentina, Chile and Hungary. In New Zealand he bought cheap farmland during the 1990s recession and converted it to highly profitable dairy operations. Mr Cleary bought the former domestic science college for girls, St Martha's in Johnstown, in the 1990s, and was responsible for the original developments there, in Johnstown Wood. He also provided a site to the Diocese for a school there, and provided the St Martha's College building for St Stephen's School. After selling his business, deceased moved to New Zealand in about 1994, using the proceeds to invest in farming, building a fortune converting sheep farms to dairy farms. Initially focused on the North Island, he later based himself in Central Otago. For a time he owned the 22,000-hectare Coronet Peak Station, although last year he sold it to Robert 'Mutt' Lange, the former husband of singer Shania Twain. He was the owner of racehorse Rand, a thoroughbred that represented New Zealand in the Nakayama Grand Jump, Japan's Grand National. The death of Mr Cleary, will be marked by the University of Otago, where the billionaire established the Chair in Irish Studies in 2006. University of Otago Eamon Cleary chair, Prof Peter Kuch, told the Otago Daily Times that Mr Cleary gave "a significant amount of money" to the university to deliver the programme, which offered papers in the bachelor of arts, bachelor of laws as a minor, papers in history, theatre, film and literature. Prof Kuch said it was a significant gesture of his to donate money as a thank you. It was a way in which he could benefit the greatest number of New Zealanders, and is the largest Irish studies programme in the southern hemisphere. In 2007, while on a visit to New Zealand, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese was presented with a Doctor of Laws degree at the University of Otago in Dunedin on the South Island, where Mr Cleary established the chair, and he was a special guest at the ceremony. Deceased shied away from the media because he was "a private man". Mr Cleary was married to Catriona and is survived by his eight children. ________________________________________________________ John Wall, Kentstown The death occurred on 31st August last of Mr John Wall, School Road, Kentstown, Navan, at Our Lady's Hospital, aged 78. He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Anne and Paula; sons, Sean, Declan, Aidan and Brian; grandchildren; great grandchildren; sons-in-law; daughters-in-law; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Kentstown, to the adjoining cemetery. ________________________________________________________ Frank Kiernan, Ashbourne There was great sadness following the passing of Mr Frank Kiernan, Castle Crescent, Ashbourne, aged 68, on 7th September last. A native of Drumchonion, Bawn, Co Monaghan, deceased was a very well-known figure in the building industry as general foreman for John Paul construction for more than 40 years, responsible for some substantial building around Dublin city. He is survived by his wife, Susie; family, Don, Aidan, and Madeline; brother, Michael; sisters, Rita and Kathleen; grandchildren, Seanan, Leigha, Laoise, Amaya, Daithi and Rua; many good friends, relations and neighbours who have been a great source of comfort and generosity at this difficult time. The funeral took place from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ashbourne, to St Patrick's Cemetery, Bawn, Co Monaghan, celebrated by Fr Jim Lynch PP, with music provided by Margaret Brennan and Dee Hanniffy.