Obituaries 16th august 2014

Máirtín Mac Donnchadha, Rath Chairn

There was widespread sadness at the death of Máirtín Mac Donnchadha, known as ‘Korea’ McDonagh on Friday 18th July last. Born in Máimín, Lettermore, Co Galway in 1926, he moved with his family to the Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht in 1935.

Máirtín emigrated to the United States in 1949 and was conscripted into the American Army, where he served as a Corporal, during the Korean War. He was captured and held as a Prisoner of War for a total of 821 days. After being released from the prison camp and returning to Ireland, he bought a small farm in Ráth Chairn and had many friends throughout the farming community in Co Meath and beyond.

He was an avid GAA supporter and closely followed his native county of Galway as well as his adoptive home of Meath, enjoying many Sundays in Croke Park. He was also actively involved in Martinstown/Athboy CLG. He held a special place in his heart for the Clann na nGael club and was a regular attendee at matches before his health deteriorated.

He loved cycling and could be seen on the roads around Ráth Chairn and beyond doing his daily 'rounds' with his dog.

The huge crowds at his funeral were a fitting tribute to Máirtín and mourners travelled from Australia, Boston, Leeds, London, France and all parts of Ireland to attend his funeral which showed the high regard in which he was held.

Máirtín is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons, Joe and Marty; daughters, Ann, Monica and Máirín; grandchildren, Katie, Martin, TJ, Joseph, Míchéal, Anthony, Alan, Ruth, Rónán, Bairbre, Joe, John, Michael, Sorcha and Áine; sons-in-law, Michael and Jack. Daughter-in-law, Breda; sisters, Brid Faherty, Sarah Dillon, Ohio, USA; sisters-in-law, Betty McDonagh, Derrylangan, Mary McDonagh, Boston; brothers-in-law, Johnny Faherty, Colm Keane, Tony McDonagh, John Conroy; nieces, nephews, cousins and a wide circle of friends.

The funeral took place from St Patrick’s Church, Rath Chairn, to St James’ Cemetery, Athboy. A guard of honour was provided by representatives of local GAA clubs and Coláiste na bhFiann.

 

Anne Boland, Navan and Kells

The sudden death on 20th July last of Anne Boland (nee McPartland), late of Claremont, Navan and St Colmcille’s Villas, Kells, at Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, aged 61, caused widespread sadness in both towns.

Anne will be remembered as a very gentle and kind lady, much loved by many. She reposed at her daughter Aoife’s residence, Canterbrook, Navan, where Fr Matthew Reilly, Dalgan Park conducted a remembrance service.

Her funeral mass in St Colmcille’s Cemetery was celebrated by Fr John Byrne, PP, Kells, who spoke of Anne’s untimely death at such a young age, and of her own personal sickness and the crosses of bereavement that Anne had to carry, especially the death of two young sons.

The funeral Mass was a moving tribute to a much loved mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. Family members took part in the liturgy and offertory of the mass. Following the funeral Mass, burial took place at St Mary’s Cemetery, Navan, alongside her sons, Mark and Edward.

Predeceased by Mark and Edward; her parents, Margaret and John; sisters, Margaret, Jean, Kathleen, and brother, Tommy, Ann is survived by her daughters, Pamela and Aoife; son, Davy; grandchildren, Emma, Edward, Leah, Ebony, Clorice, Mia and Abbie; sisters, Agnes Hughes, Elizabeth Matthews, Christina O’Neill, Marie McGregor, Patricia Gaffney, Caroline Lang, Pat More; mother-in-law, Mary Boland, a large circle of nephews and nieces both in Kells and Navan, in-laws and a very large circle of friends in both Navan and Kells.

Tommy Brennan, Kilkenny

The well-known horseman, Tommy Brennan, who was based at Loughmore Stud, Dunsany, in the 1980s, passed away recently. Mr Brennan, of Belfield Cottage, Kilpedder and formerly of Loughsullis, Dunnamaggin, Co Kilkenny, died on 20th July last, after a short illness, aged 74.

Born in Kilkenny on 29th January 1940, Tommy grew up around horses, and from an early age was involved in show jumping at pony level. He moved to Skiddoo Stud in Dublin to further his studies in animal husbandry, and it was here that he formed a famous partnership with a horse called Kilkenny.

Tommy represented Ireland at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964, where he would place fourth. In 1966 he was part of the gold medal winning team in the FEI World Eventing Championships at Burghley. In 1968 he became the first Irishman to be selected to compete in two disciplines in the Olympic games in Mexico, jumping and eventing, but unfortunately his show jumper Tubber Mac broke his leg in the Dublin Horse Show prior to the games.

And while in Mexico he along with his horse March Hawk were swept downstream, during a cross country event after heavy rain caused the river to burst its banks.

Over the course of his career he racked up 67 international show jumping wins, along with nine Irish National Championship on nine different horses.

He was also large part of the early career of the show jumper Ambassador, who claimed gold in the 1972 Games in Munich with Italian rider Graziano Mancinelli.

After his brother Larry died in 1979 he moved to Meath where he ran Loughmore Stud, which had originally been part of the Killeen Castle estate and was previously owned by Captain Rogers. While here, he bred the France Guineas winning horse San Scilla, he also rode with the Meath Hunt, the Ward Union and the Fingal Harriers. He was closely associated with many horses, jumpers as well as eventers, who would go on to compete in the Olympics.

He was a great supporter of local shows such as Ballivor and Trim, and built many eventing courses, including that of Tattersalls. Loughmore was subsequently bought by a partnership of Paul Darragh and Alain Storme, and later reverted to the ownership of Killeen Castle through Castlethorn.

In 1985, Tommy Brennan was awarded the Gold Badge of Honour by the FEI and in 1997 he was inducted into the Irish Sports Council Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his sister, Kathleen O’Neill; brother, Peter, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and a wide circle of friends.

The funeral Mass took place in St Joseph’s Church, Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, followed by burial in Kilbride Cemetery, Callan, Co Kilkenny.