Obituaries 04-09-2010

The death has occurred in Melbourne, Australia of Mr Jack Gerrard, who was a member of Skryne's senior football championship winning team of 1954. Mr Gerrard emigrated shortly after taking part in that victory over Kells Harps in which he played at full forward. Skryne won by 1-5 to 0-4. He was a Navan native, where his family ran a grocery and provision business on Watergate Street. His father, Vincent, had returned from America at the age of 30 to set up the business, but died at the age of 39, in 1940, leaving a widow, Margaret, and family of five, Harold, Jack, Tom, Bertie and Dorothy. Mrs Gerrard later remarried and with new husband, Michael Morgan, the family moved to the Hill of Skryne. Young Jack Gerrard had played with the O'Growneys, De La Salle and Hogg stars before achieveing county minor honours in 1951. Hoggs Stars was a minor team based at the Hoggs Factory in Navan. In 1952, he scored four goals in a Leinster minor championship game against Louth. In the 1954 final, Mr Gerrard, along with his fellow full forwards Ernest Kenny and Sean O'Brien, were described as 'dangerous full forwards' in the Meath Chronicle report, and Mr Gerrard concluded the scoring with a well taken point. The captain of the Skryne team was Tom O'Brien and the team included a number of players from that year's All Ireland-winning Meath team, including the O'Briens and Brian Smyth. Mr Gerrard's playing career with Skryne ended in 1955, when Navan O'Mahonys defeated Skryne in the Feis Cup replay. Shortly afterwards, he headed to England for two years, then on to Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria. There, he met his wife, Nanette, the daughter of an Irish couple, and they had three children. Mr Gerrard's brother, Tom, was a member of the Irish cycling team controversially excluded from participating in the road cycle race in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, where athlete Ronnie Delany won his gold medal in the 1,500 metres. The Irish team was intending to participate under the banner of the National Cycling Association, a 32 county organisation, which was not recognised by the Union Cycliste Internationale. This Irish team of four men, which also included Tommy Flanagan from Navan, got as far as the starting line before being spotted by officials. Jack Gerrard returned to Skryne in 1995, for his first return home since departing decades earlier. He had always kept in touch with the Meath football team and his first stop was to see Meath playing. His friends, including Jim Farnan and Sean Smith organised a reunion of old Skryne team mates in Fox's Lounge on the Hill of Skryne and a commemorative presentation was made to Mr Gerrard. He stayed with his cousins, the Tullys of the Drogheda coal merchant family, and enjoyed visiting the Meath team training sessions at Dalgan Park. Sadly, that summer also saw the death of his son, Mark, in a freak domestic accident at home in Melbourne. Mr Gerrard's daughter, Lisa, is a hugely successful Australian musician, singer, and composer who rose to prominence as part of the music group Dead Can Dance with former music partner Brendan Perry. Since her career began in 1981, she has been involved in a wide range of projects, and received a Golden Globe Award for the music score to the film 'Gladiator', on which she collaborated with Hans Zimmer and Klaus Badelt. In addition to singing, she is an instrumentalist for much of her work, most prolifically using the yangqin, a Chinese hammered dulcimer. She has also received Golden Globe nominations for 'Insider' and 'Ali' and Oscar nominations for 'Gladiator'. In 2009, she founded her own record label, Gerrard Records, with the intent to empower and support unsigned, unrecognised artists the world over. Deceased remained in touch with Skryne and Ireland and when the Irish GAA team was playing Australian Rules he always made sure to go along and meet local players like John McDermott and Trevor Giles. He was also a great horseracing follower and always kept friends in Skryne up to date on the Melbourne Cup. Mr Gerrard is survived by his wife, Nanette, daughter, Lisa, son, Jack, grandchildren, family, relatives and friends. _____________________________________________________________ Jane Lynch, Kilberry There was great sadness over a wide area at the recent death of Mrs Jane Lynch (nee Murray) of Kilberry, Wilkinstown at the age of 75. She died at her home with all her family present, having suffered from cancer for two years. A native of Kilmore, Carrick-on Shannon, she was a daughter of Bernard and Louisa Murray and was married to Gerry Lynch. She was a nurse in London and moved back to Ireland where she and Gerry went into partnership with the Keenan family to run the Round O Pub in Navan in the 1970s. They ran the Equus pub at Navan Shopping Centre in the 1980s and early 1990s. Mrs Lynch later took up nursing again in Woodlands Nursing Home. She was very involved with the local community and had lots of friends between the Bridge Club in Simonstown, Navan Theatre Group and the Flower Club. She loved life, people and gardening and was a great wife and mother. She loved her family and her grandchildren were a huge part of her life. Days out with them meant everything to her. Deceased is survived by her husband, Gerry; son, Seans, Navan, Dermot, Breen and Colm, London; daughter, Louise, Navan; their partners, daughter-in-law; grandchildren, Aaron, Dayna, Caoimhe and Cayla, brothers, sisters and brothers and sisters-in-law. Her remains were removed to St John the Baptist's Church in Kilberry and the funeral took place to Kilberry Cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Josie Kavanagh, Kells The death occurred peacefully after a short illness of Ms Josephine (Josie) Kavanagh, Fyanstown, Kells, in the care of her family at home. The community of Kells and the wider community lost a much loved and respected lady on her passing. In his funeral homily, Fr John Byrne PP, Kells, spoke of Mrs Kavanagh's dedication and hard work towards her family, and her quiet, simple, but genuine faith. He said her sudden death had left her family greatly saddened but they could take comfort in the wonderful care they showed in her final illness. Large crowds travelled to her wake, removal and funeral Mass, which took place in St Colmcille's Church, Kells, before burial in St Colmcille's Cemetery. The readings at the Mass and the offertory gifts were carried out by her grandchildren. Deceased is survived by her daughters, Irene, Phyllis, Angela, Hilary, Geraldine; sons Paddy and Paul; brothers Henry, Johnny and Michael; grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, in-laws and a wide circle of friends. She was predeceased by her brother, Tommy. _____________________________________________________________ Patrick McFadden, Gibbstown Mr Patrick McFadden, Mayo Road, Gibbstown, Navan, passed away peacefully at his residence on 7th August last, aged 85. He had bravely battled illness in recent months while lovingly caring for Jean, his wife of 52 years. Mr McFadden was born in Ranafast, Co Donegal, in 1925. At the age of 12, he moved to Meath with his family. Later, he went to Scotland to find work, where he met Jean, whom he married there. The couple returned to Gibbstown to rear a family of eight on their farm, where they had livestock, grew potatoes and dairy farmed. He was always a keen gardener, planting flowers as well as vegetables. He never really retired, believing that 'you're as young as you feel'. Mr McFadden became the proud grandfather of 20 and never missed any of his grandchildren's birthdays. They, in turn, always looked forward to their 'brown envelope'. He also enjoyed spending time with his brothers, sisters and in-laws. When Jean became ill, he was the rock that carried the family through difficult times and when he was diagnosed himself was extremely brave and always thought of those worse off than himself. He set about organising a family gathering where he enjoyed the company of those he loved, and he will be sadly missed as a great husband, father, grandfather and brother. He is survived by Jean; sons, Owen, James, Stephen, Brendan, all Mayo Road; Joseph, Chicago; daughters, Rose Fulham, Dunderry; Sheila Thompson, Gibbstown; Bridget Rooney, Carlanstown; grandchildren; brothers, Joe, Mickey, Neil, Gibbstown; sisters, Sr Catherine, France; Mary Spillane, Clongill; Bride Curran, Wilkinstown; Teresa Murray, Dunshaughlin; in-laws, relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his brothers, Tadgh and James. The funeral took place from St Catherine's Church, Oristown, to Gibbstown Cemetery. A month's memory Mass will take place in Oristown on Sunday next, 5th September, at 10am. _____________________________________________________________ Noel Flynn, Kells The death occurred on 21st August last of Mr Noel Flynn, O'Growney Terrace, Kells, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, aged 75. Deceased is survived by his wife, Dolores; daughters, Elizabeth O'Reilly and Hilary Flynn; sons, Bernard, John and Nonie; sister, Bernadette Flynn; son-in-law, Carl O'Reilly; daughters-in-law, Donna Flynn, Adremi Amusa, Tina Grayson and Maureen Flynn; grandchildren, Simon O'Reilly, Siorcha Abbott, David, Aran, and Ellie Flynn; grandson-in-law, Robert Abbott; great grandchildren, Connor Seymour and Bailey Abbott; nephews, nieces, relatives, friends and neighbours. The funeral Mass took place on Monday of last week from St Colmcille's Church, Kells, to St Colmcille's Cemetery. A month's memory Mass will be offered on Sunday 19th September next at 11am in St Colmcille's Church, Kells.John Smith, Navan There was much sadness over a wide area at the recent passing of Mr John Smith, Flowerhill, Navan, and late of Gerrardstown, Garlow Cross. Aged 68, he died at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. A native of Gerrardstown, he was predeceased by his wife, Rose, in March 1994. Deceased had many wonderful friends along the way and his door was always open with no chance of ever leaving without a cup of tea and a chat. He enjoyed listening to music, nature and sport, and his favourite pastime was horseracing. He is survived by his family, Jacqueline Burman, USA; Denis Smith, Terry Smith, Lavinia Gumbleg, and Paul Smith, all Leicester, England; Shane, Gerry, Michael and Tracy Gorman, all Navan; grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and a wide circle of friends. The funeral took place from Johnstown Church to Old Kilcarne Cemetery. ____________________________________________________________ Brigid Brady, Batterstown Mrs Brigid Brady, Rathregan, Batterstown, who passed away on 6th August last, aged 93, was affectionately known as 'Mother Brady'. A member of the Woods family, she was a true native of Batterstown where she lived for her 93 years , and was an avid GAA supporter of both local and county teams. A devoted mother and grandmother, she lived life to the full. Predeceased by her husband, Ger, in 1982, she is survived by her sons, Eamonn and Garrett; daughters, Mary, Lillian, Margaret, Patricia and Bridget; brother, Jim Woods; daughters-in-law; sons-in-law; grandchildren; great grandchildren; nieces; sister-in-law, Tess Lamb; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Batterstown, followed by burial in adjoining cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ John Smith, Navan There was much sadness over a wide area at the recent passing of Mr John Smith, Flowerhill, Navan, and late of Gerrardstown, Garlow Cross. Aged 68, he died at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. A native of Gerrardstown, he was predeceased by his wife, Rose, in March 1994. Deceased had many wonderful friends along the way and his door was always open with no chance of ever leaving without a cup of tea and a chat. He enjoyed listening to music, nature and sport, and his favourite pastime was horseracing. He is survived by his family, Jacqueline Burman, USA; Denis Smith, Terry Smith, Lavinia Gumbleg, and Paul Smith, all Leicester, England; Shane, Gerry, Michael and Tracy Gorman, all Navan; grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and a wide circle of friends. The funeral took place from Johnstown Church to Old Kilcarne Cemetery.