Updated: Saturday, 25th August, 2007 12:00am

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Death of Mannix Dowdall

Horseracing and GAA followers throughout Meath were saddened on Monday to learn of the death of Mannix Dowdall, Donaghmore, Navan, after a short illness.

Aged 86, Mr Dowdall`s working life was spent on Navan Racecourse and on his retirement, the Mannix Dowdall Maiden Hurdle was named in his honour.

Born in January 1921, he lived near the Round Tower at Donaghmore and started working at Navan Racecourse at the age of 16, in 1937.

Over the 68 years of his association with the racecourse at Proudstown he witnessed many changed, including the recent significant changes to the facilities there. He also worked at the Bellewstown and Laytown meetings.

Even after retiring, Mr Dowdall was a familiar figure at the Proudstown course and always returned to present the prize in the maiden hurdle named in his honour.

He was also a well-known GAA referee in the 1960s, and in the 1970s was an officer on the Meath Referees` Association. He played his early football with the Kilberry club, and in later years was associated with the Navan O`Mahony`s club and had attended the recent Meath-Fermanagh game in Pairc Tailteann.

Mr Dowdall had an immense knowledge and also had great time for everybody. He looked after the maintenance of Donaghmore Cemetery beside his home, and will be laid to rest there.

Mr Dowdall is survived by his wife, Mary; son Philip; daughter-in-law Carol, sisters Kathleen and Olive; nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends.

His funeral Mass takes place in St Oliver`s Church, Blackcastle today (Wednesday) at 12 noon, followed by burial in Donaghmore Cemetery.