The late Ted Murtagh

Obituaries 29th June 2013

Ted Murtagh, Trim

The death last week of Ted Murtagh, of the Trim clothing and footwear store, after a short illness, came as a major shock across Meath and further afield. Mr Murtagh died on Tuesday of last week, in Beaumont Hospital. Best known for his involvement in Gaelic games and a dedicated GAA supporter, he was also involved in community organisations around Trim.

In 1978, he opened his store on Haggard Street, selling a huge variety of products ranging from mens and boys wear, schoolwear and specialising in sports clothing and footwear.

A native of Collinstown in Westmeath, Ted Murtagh came to Trim to work in the drapery at Leonard’s of Athboygate, part of the general business that operated at the present day Malthouse pub. He enjoyed senior hurling championship success with Rickardstown, winning a county medal, and cycled the long distance back home to play with his native club for a time after his move to Trim in 1952.

He was soon converted, and became one of Trim’s greatest supporters, to be seen at almost every hurling and football match up to his recent short illness. Over the years he held the positions of secretary and treasurer on Trim GAA club’s executive committee. He was a senior hurling selector for a number of years when the club took home ten senior county titles between 1987 and 2001. He was also a very active worker in the juvenile section of the club up to the mid 1990s. Nothing gave him more pleasure than presenting the Ted Murtagh Cup especially when it was to his own club Trim.

Deceased was a well known referee in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, during which time he refereed a number of Meath senior hurling finals and also some inter-county hurling matches. In later years, he was the main organiser of the club bingo and very involved with its lotto fundraising. Ted Murtagh Clothing and Footwear has been involved in GAA sponsorship for many years, and this year sponsors the senior county hurling championship and leagues.

Ted Murtagh was also a keen supporter of Meath and his native Westmeath, but held the distinction of seeing every All-Ireland final since 1952, both hurling and football, celebrating 60 years of attending All-Irelands two years ago.

In an interview with the Meath Chronicle at the time, he recalled the Cork-Wexford hurling meeting of 1956. Christy Ring unleashed an ‘Exocet’ that Wexford goalkeeper Art Foley somehow managed to block. It was a wonder save and Ring strode forward to shake Foley’s hand in an iconic moment that has become part of All-Ireland folklore.

Back in those days, long before health and safety regulations were strictly enforced, it was possible to sit literally at the touchline at an All-Ireland and watch the action unfold just a few metres away.

He recalled the 1953 football showdown and how Armagh’s Bill McCorry missed a penalty when the Ulster side had mighty Kerry on the rack; the wonderful performance of Kells youngster Michael Grace as Meath defeated Kerry to win Sam for the second time in ‘54, and the sight of Mattie McDonagh in tears after Galway lost out to Dublin in the 1963 football final.

'I love the atmosphere of an All-Ireland final,' he said. 'The final that gave me the most satisfaction was the ‘67 win when Trim player Peter Darby captained the Meath team. There were great celebrations around the county after that win. Galway’s three in row in the 1960s was a very exciting time. I don’t think I saw a better footballer than Galway’s Frank Purcell, he was magical.'

He had a bad experience in 1961, when down played Offaly and over 90,000 were squeezed into a 70,000 capacity stadium. He was nearly crushed in the pushing that ensued.

In 1963, Ted Murtagh married Ann Magee, whose family ran a bar in Trim. She was a well-known photographer of events and matches in the area. Two boys followed - Derek, currently based in Tenerife, and CJ, who now runs the family business. Ann was far-seeing in setting up an active retirement in the town decades ago, and Ted got involved in this too.

But it was for his involvement in St Vincent de Paul in Trim for 60 years that he was better known, helping people in need in a discreet and efficient manner.

Ted Murtagh is survived by his wife, Ann; sons, Derek and CJ; daughters-in-law, Stephanie and Riona; grandchildren, Shannon, Ross, Aaron, David, Elaine, and Julieanne; brothers and sisters, Tommy, Billy, Breda, Christy, Peter, John, Mary; nieces, nephews, relatives and very large circle of friends. He was predeceased by brother, Charlie.

Thousands thronged the wake at CJ’s home at Newhaggard on Wednesday evening and the funeral Mass in St Patrick’s Church on Thursday morning. Burial followed in St Loman’s Cemetery. A minute’s silence was observed at GAA fixtures across the county at the weekend, in memory of a man who had spent so much time at GAA grounds himself.

The family has suffered a number of bereavements in recent months, with the passings of Ann Murtagh’s brother, Jimmy Magee, Athboy, and sister, Mona Gilroy, Trim, since December.

Jim Reilly, Dunboyne

A true Gael whose passion for club and county and pride in the GAA ran through his veins, was how Jim Reilly was described at his funeral Mass in Dunboyne on Monday morning.

Fr Mark English, CC, Dunboyne, also recalled Mr Reilly’s commitment to his family and his role as a parishioner at the Mass for the 1954 All-Ireland senior football medal winner.

Jim Reilly died unexpectedly on Friday last, having taken ill suddenly, aged 88.

He was centre half-back when the Meath lifted the Sam Maguire Cup for the second time, beating Kerry in 1954.

After victories over Wicklow, Kildare, Longford and Offaly in Leinster and Cavan in the penultimate round of the championship, Meath went into the final as rank outsiders. Eight of the history-making team of 1949 were still there five years later with Jim Reilly in the middle of an entirely new half-back line and Kevin Lenehan and Ned Durnin on the wings.

He recovered from an injury which forced him to retire during the win over Cavan to play a notable part in the 1-13 to 1-7 victory over the defending champions.

The Dunboyne clubman was a versatile player, starring in defence and attack in major successes with the county. The 1954 game was his fourth All-Ireland SFC appearance, including one replay, in as many years. The other three were at full-forward, against Mayo in 1951 and two clashes with Cavan in ’52.

Mr Reilly was also in the number 14 jersey for the National League triumph in 1951. After defeating Mayo by 0-6 to 0-3 in the ‘home’ final Meath overcame New York by 1-10 to 0-10 at the Polo Grounds. He lined out at right half-forward on Leinster’s Railway Cup winning team in 1954, when Connacht were defeated by 1-7 to 1-5 in the final.

Jim Reilly enjoyed notable success on the club scene with St Peter’s, Dunboyne. He was centrefield for the IFC success and centre-forward when the Feis Cup was annexed in 1959 before continuing playing into his 40s.

His son, Brendan, followed in his father’s footsteps when gaining two All-Ireland senior medals, as a member of the 1988 squad, and shooting the spectacular winning point at the end of the controversial final replay against Mayo in 1996.

Fr English recounted a photograph from 1954, a rare and special occasion then, is now a photo among so may photos in the Reilly home at Congress Park, 'a place which meant so much more than all that took place on football pitches around the county and further afield.'

Jim Reilly’s was a marvellous career for a man who had stumbled into football by chance. He came to play football in his late teens almost by accident. He called up to a friend who happened to be cycling to Newcastle near Lucan to watch a match. Jim decided to tag along for the fun. When they arrived, Dunboyne didn’t have enough players to field a team and were about to forfeit the game. Jim having never played Gaelic before was roped into playing midfield as he was a great runner and had run a lot of races at 100m and 200m distance. He was told to catch the ball and kick. His friend ended up in goals. Jim scored from midfield and ended up being a natural. The Gaelic football bug had bit, and an almighty career kicked off from there.

Jim and Frances Reilly were married in September 1960, and a family of seven followed. Deceased had worked delivering bread, mainly around north Kildare, for the Mother’s Pride bakery. He enjoyed tending to his garden, and for over 40 years his blooms decorated the church sanctuary in Dunboyne every June.

Jim loved watching sport and following horses, Fr English recalled, and like Queen Elizabeth, had reasons to cheer watching the racing from Ascot last Thursday.

'Needless to say, it wasn’t the Queen’s horse he had backed, but a good royal thoroughbred trained by a Meath-based woman in the Britannia Stakes,' he added, referring to Joanna Morgan’s win with Roca Tuma.

Family members took part in the ceremony, at which Fr English was assisted by Fr Sean McGearty, Ballivor, a brother of the goalkeeper on the 1954 team, Patsy McGearty, currently on a visit home from Australia.

Jim Reilly is survived by his wife, Frances; family, Anthony, Deirdre, Peter, Denise, Brendan, Colette and Leo; brothers; sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, relatives and friends.

The funeral took place from the Church of Ss Peter and Paul, Dunboyne to Rooske cemetery, where the attendance included Meath footballers spanning the generations. Dunboyne GFC provided a guard of honour.

Below: Jim Reilly in his playing days for Meath.

Pat Waters, Navan

 There was widespread sadness following the sudden death of Pat Waters, Commons Road, Navan, on 22nd May last, at Cavan Regional Hospital, following a short illness, at the age of 69.

Son of the late Kathleen and Jack Waters, deceased was a lifelong resident of Commons Road. He is survived by his sister, Maureen Fox, Kilskyre; brother, Jack Waters, Dublin; sister-in-law; nieces; other relatives and his many friends at his adopted home of Rath na Riagh where he was so well cared for. The funeral Mass took place from St Mary’s Church, Navan to St Mary’s Cemetery, Navan, celebrated by Fr Ignatius Waters, a cousin of the deceased.

A month’s memory Mass will take place on Sunday 30th June in St Mary’s Church, Navan, at 1pm.

Dermot McAuley, Tara

The regretted death of Dermot McAuley, Proudstown, Skryne, Tara, occurred on 9th June last at Ratoath Manor Nursing Home, aged 78.

A native of Blackpool, England, he spent several years with family in Northern Ireland during World War II, before returning to England to be educated in Priory Park, Bath. He worked for a time in Scotland, then moved to Balrath, Navan to help with the family’s grass drying business.

He later started a land drainage and reclamation business which he continued for many years until his retirement in the early 1990s.

He drove a hackney in Navan until he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. As the illness progressed, he spent his final 18 months in the loving and dedicated care of the staff of Ratoath Manor.

Deceased is survived by his wife Margaret (Peggy); son, Derek; daughter, Susan; daughter-in-law, Jillian; sister, Maureen; brothers, Brian, Neill, Michael and Edwin; grandchildren, Kevin, Benjamin, Shane, Billy; and great-grandchild Sheila.

The Funeral Mass took place in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rathfeigh, with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. A month’s memory Mass will take place on Saturday 6th July at 6pm in Rathfeigh Church.

 Paul Lennon, Kilmainhamwood

The regretted death occurred of Mr Paul Lennon, Ervey, Kilmainhamwood, Kells, at his home on 5th June last, aged 89.

A native of Corlea, Shantonagh, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, he was a life-long Pioneer and a hard-working member of the farming community. He was based at Ervey since 1964. He also had a strong interest in politics and was a staunch Fine Gael supporter. Mr Lennon will be remembered as a friendly man who had a greeting for everyone he met.

Deceased is survived by his wife, Patricia; sons, Seán, Bailieboro, Feargal, Ervey and Paul, Ervey; daughters, Mary, Navan and Eilís, Cobh; brother, Thomas; sister, Kay; sister-in-law, Mary; son-in-law, Damien; daughters-in-law, Ancilla and Mandy and grandchildren, Mark, Conor, Sarah, Kate, Brian, Tomás and James.

The funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr Gerry McCormack and Fr John Halton on 8th June in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kingscourt, with burial in the adjoining cemetery.

Sr Columba Farrell, Trim

There was widespread regret following the passing of Sr Columba Farrell, Convent of Mercy, Trim in Knightsbridge Care Centre, Trim, on 9th May last, aged 92. Deceased was a former principal of St Mary’s Primary School in the town.

A native of Newtowncashel, Co Longford, she entered the Convent of Mercy in 1939. She was a teacher in the convent primary school up until 1956 when she and three other sister were invited to open a primary school in Berlin, New Jersey, USA. Sr Columba returned to Trim in 1964 where she became principal of St Mary’s Primary School until her retirement in 1986.

She is survived by nieces, Concepta Murphy, Westmeath, and Kathleen Harney, Roscommon, and nephews, Pat Merrigan and John Merrigan, both of Longford.

The funeral Mass took place on 10th May last from St Patrick’s Church, Trim to St Loman’s Cemetery, Trim.

James Tully, Bettystown

There was considerable sadness following the death on 15th May last of James (Jimmy) Tully, Eastham Road, Bettystown Cross, Bettystown, in Buckingham, England at the age of 51.

A native of Baltray, Drogheda, he was the managing director of Seat Construction Ltd.

He was predeceased by his wife Terri Curtin-Tully and is survived by his daughters, Caoimhe and Dearbhla; brothers, Oliver, Baltray and Eugene, Australia; sisters, Susan Reynolds, Anne Keane and Liz Mooney, Termonfeckin, Mary Gavriel and Bernie Rai, both England; brothers and sisters-in-law, and other relatives and friends.

The funeral took place from St Mary’s Church, Drogheda to Calvary Cemetery, Drogheda.