Recent deaths 2-1-10

The regretted occurred on 1st December last of Mr Jim Carroll, Carrickleck, Kingscourt, at James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown. Aged 70, Mr Carroll was retired from his work as a tradesman with Gypsum Industries, and took great pride and enjoyment from working on his farm up until his recent illness. He was a keen Meath GAA supporter who had great interest in politics and history. Deceased is survived by his wife, Esther; son, Shane; daughters, Mary McKeon, Fiona Keogan and Nuala Cleary; eight grandchildren; in-laws, relatives and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kingscourt, to the adjoining cemetery. A month's memory Mass will take place this coming Friday, 1st January, at 12 noon in Kingscourt Church. _____________________________________________________________ John McGuigan, Streete The death has taken place of Mr John McGuigan, husband of Mary McGuigan, advertising sales manager with the Meath Chronicle. Mr McGuigan passed away on St Stephen's Day morning at the couple's home in Streete, Co Westmeath. His remains were taken to the church in Streete last evening (Tuesday) and he will be buried this morning (Wednesday) after 12 o'clock Mass in Streete. His last few weeks were spent battling bravely against an illness which ultimately proved too much for him to surmount. John McGuigan was a proud Scotsman from Peebles, who came to live in Ireland in the early 1990s. He later met and married Mary and they moved to Streete four years ago. He was predeceased by his son, Paul, who was killed last August in a tragic accident while working in Iraq. Mr McGuigan's family have travelled over from Scotland and his daughter, Terry-Anne, arrived on Monday from her home in Australia. She had travelled with Aisling, her step-sister, who, along with her brother Roddy and sister Lisa, is supporting their mother, Mary, at this very difficult time. The McGuigan family have expressed their gratitude for the support they have received from their neighbours in Streete and colleagues in the Meath Chronicle and its sister newspapers in Celtic Media Group. _____________________________________________________________ Bridie Reilly, Kiltale The death occurred on 19th December last, following a short illness, of Mrs Bridie Reilly, Grange, Dunsany, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. Aged 77, she was wife of the late Noel Reilly, caretaker at the Teagasc Agricultural Research Centre at Grange, who died in 1996. Mrs Reilly was a native of Kilskyre, and grew up at Tara Hall on the Hill of Tara, where her late father, James, worked as a farm steward. She began her working life on the domestic staff at Killeen Castle, where she met her husband, Killeen-native Noel Reilly. She then worked at Grange and Warrenstown College, as well as for private clients. Deceased enjoyed many activities and social outlets over the years, and was very involved in community activities, particularly with Kiltale GAA, which her husband and family were active in. Duties performed over the years included the washing of the team jerseys. Mrs Reilly was a founder member of Kiltale ICA guild in 1970, and also enjoyed bingo. She was also a member of the Dunshaughlin Friday Morning Club. She is survived by her daughters, Ann Carolan, Dunshaughlin, and Martina Gorman, Crerogue, Kilmessan; sons, Jimmy, Australia; Paschal, Grange, Dunsany; and Dom, Batterjohn, Dunsany; their families, 21 grandchildren; great grandchildren, in-laws, extended family, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends. The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Kiltale, to the Reilly family plot in Killeen Castle Cemetery. A month's memory Mass will take place in Kiltale Church on Saturday 16th January at 6pm. _____________________________________________________________ John O'Meara, Kilcock The death occurred in late November of Mr John O'Meara, Pitchfordstown Stud, Kilcock, who had substantial business and property interests in Meath. Mr O'Meara passed away at home following a brave battle with illness. He was aged 48. A native of Thurles, Co Tipperary, he was a renowned beef finisher, and began his career as a teenager with the Purcell family firm, working in live shipping. Deceased quickly became a major player in the firm, taking over procurement of cattle when Purcells owned the meat plants, and later as a manager with Hibernia Meats when they bought the Sallins plant from Purcells. In recent years, he has been one of the biggest beef finishers in the country. Mr O'Meara was owner of large swathe of development land around Dunshaughlin, as well as an agricultural holding in Dunsany. His Dunshaughlin property includes lands at the local business park, and he had facilitated the local youth soccer club with playing pitches there. In a statement, Dunshaughlin Youths FC said: "It was with great sadness that the committee, members and players of the death of our friend and benefactor John O'Meara. "For the past 14 years the boys and girls of Dunshaughlin have played their football on land provided to the club rent free by John at Dunshaughlin Industrial Estate. "His magnanimous gesture was typical of the man's generosity to our club and the proof positive of that was his kind donation this year of 12 acres of land for new playing pitches for DYFC. "This land, ceded to our club by John and the Stanley brothers, will provide a fitting home for soccer in our village and would simply not have been possible without John's drive and co-operation. "John was also the prime sponsor, along with the Stanleys, of many of our fund raising drives in recent years including our golf classics. We will progress with our plans in his honour and he will always be close to our hearts." Mr O'Meara was also very generous towards the Dunshaughlin National School Golf Classic, and the Dunsany GFC Golf Classic, and was delighted to allow the Dunsany Cross Country Chase cross his lands there. Early in 2009, he had been involved in negotiations to bring a new industry to the business park in Dunshaughlin. Deceased was also a prominent racehorse owner, and his successful racehorse, Aitmatov, is in training with Noel Meade. He also enjoyed success with Johnny Setaside in the Drinmore Chase and Ericsson Chase in the 1990s, and was looking forward to the promising Prima Vista, which made a winning debut in Down Royal last year. Mr O'Meara is survived by his wife, Claire; sons, John and Charlie; mother, Mary; sisters, Eleanor and Mary; in-laws, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and a large circle of friends. The funeral Mass took place at St Coca's Church, Kilcock, on 28th November last, with burial afterwards in St Joseph's Cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Vincent Clusker, Dunshaughlin Mr Vincent 'Skipper' Clusker, Red Bog Road, Dunshaughlin, who died at Beaumont Hospital on 7th December last, was a native of Dunshaughlin and was aged 85 years. Son of the late Thomas and Bridget Clusker, he worked in the building trade with Jimmy Brady for many years, and also with Craigies for 15 years. Deceased was also a keen gardener, and stockholder, and treated his cattle with great kindness. Mr Clusker, who played football with Dunshaughlin in his youth, played in goals for the Meath minor team against Dublin in 1942. He was a keen sports follower who followed the Meath football team all over the country, and was also a great follower of National Hunt racing. He supported Arsenal Football Club. Deceased is survived by his sisters, Maureen Smith, Vera Dillon and Angela McLoughlin; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. His funeral took place from the Church of Ss Patrick and Seachnall, Dunshaughlin, to Dunshaughlin Cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ John Lawlor, Navan The funeral took place in Navan on St Stephen's Day of Mr John Lawlor, Silverlawns, who passed way suddenly on Wednesday of last week. Aged 77, he was a noted track cyclist who also won a number of road championships in the 1950s. Deceased worked for many years as a driver with Chadwicks. A native of The Lotts, Brownstown, Navan, he was a member of Bohermeen Cycling Club, and enjoyed considerable success as a grass track cyclist in the 1950s, winning a number of Meath championships. He also won many road championships, a feat not to easy on a track bicycle, as well as hill championships at places like Slane and Bellewstown. He achieved a 25-mile time trial in under an hour in the 1950s, again a considerable achievement on a fixed wheel bicycle, without gears. After retiring from the saddle, he continued to maintain involvement in the club and its activities. Mr Lawlor is survived by his wife, Rose (nee O'Brien); son, Fergus; daughter, Bernie McElhinney; daughter-in-law, Rosanne; son-in-law, Darren; grandchildren, Shane, Kyle and Amanda; sisters, Christina Kerrigan, Boyerstown; Patricia Gaynor, Skryne; Bridget, England; brother, William, Canada; relatives and friends. He was predeceased in June by his sister, Maureen. The funeral took place from St Mary's Church, Navan, to St Mary's Cemetery.