Obituaries 31-03-2012

The people of Athboy joined the Sweeney and McElhinney families and staff, customers and associates of McElhinney's Fashions, for the funeral yesterday (Tuesday) of Mrs Mary Sweeney of the fashion store family, who passed away on Saturday. Mrs Sweeney (68) died at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, after an illness of four years. Her late mother, Molly, had founded the business in 1937, and deceased started working in the business when she was 16, when Mrs McElhinney got her to go through commercial travellers' cases to pick out the best clothes. She developed an eye and by the time she was 21, was the company's buyer. When Business and Finance magazine visited the store in 1988 to profile McElhinney's as a small firm, it said the 10,000 square feet carpeted sales floor had the feel and appearance of a city store. And the £1 million worth of clothes brought in each season bears comparison with one too, the magazine said. Mary Sweeney said that McElhinney's was not a department store in the sense that it did not have a lot of different departments. "But if you are talking about ladies' clothes, then we have as much here as a department store would have." She said that if someone went into town to go shopping, they have to go from shop to shop to see different ranges - Switzers have one range that Brown Thomas are not going to be selling up the street. McElhinneys could buy all the ranges. Molly McElhinney died later in 1988, and the family continued running the store which is now managed by the third generation. Mary Sweeney remained involved up until taking ill in 2008, and like her mother, always paid tribute to the success of their staff in ensuring that customers went away happy. Mary Sweeney's mother was a far seeing woman before her time. She had the idea of a café in the store long before it became fashionable in the city stores. Her husband, George, used to driver her to Dublin on buying trips. Her original store was a general drapery, selling men's women's and children's clothes. She bought it for £500, a lot of money at the time. The family was brought up over the shop. In 1973, with the business rapidly expanding, McElhinneys moved up the street to the former Alms House. Mrs McElhinney purchased the derelict building a couple of years previous. The Alms House was founded in 1797 by the fourth Earl of Darnley for the support of 12 widows and rebuilt in 1834 by the sixth earl. In the 1990s, McElhinneys rebuilt the façade of the store, carefully reproducing the limestone to match the front of the old Market House housing the bridalwear, and in more recent years, the Sweeneys oversaw a further redevelopment of the store. Predeceased by her parents, George and Molly McElhinney, and her son, Conall, as an infant, she is survived by her husband Niall, who is retired principal of Rath Chairn NS; sons Neal and Aongus; daughters Libby and Mary; daughters-in-law and sons-in-law; grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Pat, Mossie, Jack, Louise and Doreen; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. The funeral took place yesterday (Tuesday) from St James' Church, Athboy, to St James' Cemetery. ____________________________________________________________ Tucker Cahill, Navan The death of Mr Thomas 'Tucker' Cahill, Woodview, Trim Road, Navan, at the age of 64, caused considerable sadness. He passed away on 4th March last at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. A native of Parnell Park, Navan, deceased had worked in Navan Carpets for many years, and also as a barman, which he enjoyed. A popular figure around the town, he featured in Michael Sheils' book 'Short Trousers Days in Navan' where the author writes about Mr Cahill thinking he was Superman, going to stop a train - he was a big fan of Superman. Deceased followed football and Queens Park Rangers, loved karaoke and was a Cliff Richard fan. He enjoyed cooking and baking. Tucker Cahill will be recalled as a man small of stature but with a larger than life personality, with a witty response to everything. He was predeceased by his wife, Anna, in October 2005, and is survived by his daughters, Collette, Elmview Close; Sabrena, Woodview Court and Cora, McDermott Villas, all Navan; son, Richard, Woodview; brothers, Sean, Larry and Michael; sisters, Nancy Smith, Maureen Wogan and Irene Brady; relatives and many friends. The funeral took place from St Mary's Church, Navan, to St Mary's Cemetery, where he was laid to rest with his parents, Margaret and Thomas, and his late wife. _____________________________________________________________ Elizabeth Coyle, Batterstown The death of Mrs Elizabeth (Lilly) Coyle, Parsonstown, Batterstown, at Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, on 28th February last, was the source of widespread sadness. She passed away two weeks prior to her 88th birthday. Deceased lived life to the full and always enjoyed family outings and her shopping trips. She rarely missed Sunday night bingo in Ratoath since it started over 50 years ago, and attended the Friday Club in Dunshaughlin every week. Mrs Coyle loved cards and played 25s in Marcies in Trim and in the Parochial Centre in Dunshaughlin every week. She had a great interest in sport, especially horse racing, and loved a flutter on the horses and will be sadly missed by the staff in Bamburys. She loved baking and her bread and apple tarts were enjoyed by everybody. She was a very special lady and friend to all who knew her, and will be sadly missed by all her family and friends. Mrs Coyle (nee Moore) was predeceased by her husband, Thomas, in January 1986. She is survived by her daughters, Mary McCormack, Ann Lynam and Imelda Whelan; sons, John and Paul Coyle, all Batterstown; sister, Peg White, Ratoath; sons-in-law, Lally, Peadar and Martin; daughters-in-law, Ann and Caroline; grandchildren; great grandchildren; nieces; nephews; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Batterstown, to the adjoining cemetery. A loving tribute was paid at her graveside by her grandson, Mark. A month's memory Mass will take place in the Church of the Assumption in Batterstown on Sunday 1st April at 9.30am. _____________________________________________________________ Bridget McMahon, Navan There was widespread regret following the death on 18th March last of Mrs Bridget McMahon, Farganstown, Navan, at Millbury Nursing Home, Navan. Aged 90, she was a member of the Reilly family of Moynalty, Kells, and was predeceased by her husband, Joseph McMahon, in 1973. Deceased was a lover of all sports, and in 1936 won a county championship medal in camogie with Moynalty. She was an ardent supporter of the Meath and Walterstown teams, never missing a match over the years. Horse racing was another passion of Mrs McMahon's, especially following Ruby Walsh, and she enjoyed watching snooker, particularly Alex Higgins in action. She loved her social nights and a good game of 25s. She is survived by her family, Catherine O'Rourke, St Mary's Park, Navan; Margaret Byrne, Kilskyre, Kells; Josephine McMahon, London; Breda Lyons, Tankardstown, Navan; John McMahon, Alexandreid, Navan; and Hugh McMahon, Farganstown, Navan; daughters-in-law and sons-in-law; grandchildren; great grandchildren; nieces; nephews; relatives; neighbours and friends. The funeral took place from Johnstown Church to St Mary's Cemetery, celebrated by Fr Martin Mulvaney, PP, Johnstown, Fr John Brogan, PP, Kilskyre and Fr Dwayne Gavin, CC, Navan.