Recent Deaths 18-10-08

Ms M Donlon, Clonard Much sadness was occasioned in late September by the death in Tullamore General Hospital of Miss Maureen Donlon (86) of The Bayleaf, Clonard Old. She spent the greater part of her life in the locality and cared for her aged parents with great devotion. Her kindness and hospitality to her many friends and neighbours will long be remembered. Deceased is survived by her brothers, Larry and Paddy; sisters, Monica and Sr Cathie, FMDM; sister-in-law, Josephine; nieces, Caitriona Noonan, Dean Hill, Navan; Ruth O"Brien, South Carolina, USA; Aedín Lipski, London; Hilary Cheal, Brisbane, Australia, and nephews, Peadar and Pádraig, Clonard. The funeral took place from St Finian"s Church, Clonard, to Clonard Cemetery. Mrs A McEntaggart, Dunshaughlin Mrs Angela McEntaggart, Ratoath Road, Dunshaughlin, who died on 29th September last, was a member of the Campbell family, Ballyowen, Co Westmeath, and was wife of the late undertaker, Kieran McEntaggart, who died in 1999. A retired primary school teacher, she will be remembered as a loving mother who devoted a lifetime to teaching and helping children in her locality. Deceased is survived by her sons, Louis and Adrian, daughter, Sheena, sisters, Mary, Bridie and Ann, brothers, John and Michael, grandchildren, relatives and friends. Her funeral took place from St Patrick"s and St Sechnall"s Church, Dunshaughlin, to the local cemetery. Mr P Kearns, Ashbourne A pillar of the local community was lost to Ashbourne in late August with the death, at Portlaoise General Hospital, of Mr Patrick 'Barney" Kearns (71), Nine Mile Stone, Baltrasna. A retired bus driver, he had been a founding member of St Declan"s Credit Union, serving as a director and supervisor up until his retirement in 2006. He was a talented singer and member of Donaghmore Church Choir, singing solo at many weddings. Football was the centre of his youth and early adult life, as he lined out with the successful Ashbourne Intermediate side which took the county title in 1959. With his brother, Jim, he formed one of six sets of brothers on that side - the Durnins, O"Regans, Dwyers, Sullivans and Sweeneys beside them. Mr Kearns was an active member of the now defunct Ashbourne Amateur Dramatic Society from the late 1950s, taking part in such productions as 'The White Headed Boy", 'The Plough and the Stars", 'The Far-Off Hills Are Green", while his performances as Joxer in O"Casey"s 'Juno and the Paycock" and the matchmaker in John B Keane"s 'Sive" were to earn him highly commended amateur theatre awards. The deceased"s working life were spent in public transport, first the GNR, Dublin Bus and finally Bus Eireann. He became a familiar sight on the Carrickmacross bus serving Ashbourne in 1956, switching to the Dublin city service in 1958, based at Summerhill garage. He moved to Clontarf and then returned to Summerhill before moving onto the Ashbourne Bus Eireann service from Broadstone in 1966 - serving from that base until his retirement in 2000. The abiding memory most of his workmates hold of him is his eternal campaign to convince them all of the superiority of the 'Green and Gold". Deceased is survived by his wife, Alice and other relatives. His remains were removed to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ashbourne, where the funeral Mass was celebrated prior to burial in Ashbourne Cemetery.