Recent deaths 20-03-10

The death has occurred of Mr Peter Moore, a member of Meath's All-Ireland winning senior football team of 1967. Even though he had been in ill health in recent years, Mr Moore (71), of Screggan Cross, Tullamore, passed away suddenly on Monday morning, 15th March. His funeral takes place in Mucklagh, Tullamore on Friday 19th March at 12 noon. Peter Moore was a Ballinabrackey clubman who was on the Meath minor squad that won the Leinster final in 1957. That team went on to the All-Ireland final, but as he was a student in Dalgan Park at the time, he was unable to get away for the final. He made his senior county debut in the National League against Leitrim in Ballinamore in 1959, when his opponent at the time was one Fergus O'Rourke, later to become resident of Skryne. Mr Moore, at centrefield, was part of Meath's revival which began in 1964, with the first of the Royal County's four Leinster titles of that era, 1964, '66, '67 and '70. The highlight of this period was the All-Ireland final win over Cork, and Meath had also reached the ultimate stage in 1966 and '70, when beaten by Galway and Kerry respectively. He took part in the famous groundbreaking trip to Australia in 1968, and also played in New York and Wembley Stadium, London. Mr Moore bowed out in 1970, after playing in the Grounds Tournament, a popular challenge tournament in the sixties and seventies, when All-Ireland semi-finalists played the team they didn't meet in their own semi-final. Meath played Derry. In 1972, Peter Moore captained the Ballinabrackey team that defeated Dunsany in a Meath JFC final. The Dunsany team was captained by Brendan Cummins, now a county committee official. Deceased lived at Tullamore where he worked with Bord na Mona, spending a great deal of his career at the Boora works. He is survived by his wife, Anne; sons, Alan and Pat; brothers, Neddy, Fr Dan, Paddy and John; sisters, Phyllis, Anne, and Breda, extended family, relatives and friends. ______________________________________________________________ Sinéad Sweeney, Enfield Much sadness was occasioned over a wide area of south Meath following the recent death of Sinéad Sweeney (29), Innswood Drive, Enfield. who passed away at St James's Hospital on 27th February after a long illness. A native of Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ms Sweeney worked as an administrator with An Bord Pleanala. She is survived by her partner, Kevin McLaughlin; son, Mac McLaughlin; mother, Nell Sweeney; brother, Fergal Sweeney; grandmother; aunts; uncles; cousins; Patrick J McLaughlin, Mary McLaughlin and family. The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Jordanstown, to the adjoining cemetery. ______________________________________________________________ Neil Shiels, Gibbstown The regretted death occurred on 23rd February last of Mr Neil Shiels, Gibbstown, Navan, following a brief illness. Aged 87, he passed away at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, and was predeceased in July 2006 by his wife, Hannah, whom he had cared for in the years prior to her death. Hannah Moriarty was a native of Kerry and they had married in 1951. A native of Doaghmore, Fanad, Co Donegal, Mr Shiels moved to Meath with his family in 1937. His parents and four of his siblings returned to Donegal 10 years later, but deceased along with Hughie, Maggie and Mary remained to make their homes in Meath. In the 1950s, with friends including Joe McFadden, Mikey McDonnell and the late John Togher, he worked in England, returning to Meath and settling to farm in the early 1960s. Deceased became a familiar site around Gibbstown, smoking his pipe and driving his landmark jeep as he checked his flocks of sheep. Mr Shiels had a gift of storytelling and his sense of humour was legendary. He will be recalled as an extraordinary man who touched the lives of many, and had an affinity with young and old. A man of incredible health and energy, he had a clean bill of health for his 87 years and was totally devoted to his special son, Paul. He was very proud of his visit to his nephew, Michael, in Melbourne, Australia, in June 2007, spending three weeks there with another nephew, John. A lifelong member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, he was awarded the Fr James Cullen Medal in 2000. Deceased is survived by his family, Maureen Fanning, Dowth; Eileen Shiels, Kilberry; Ann Browne, Navan; Noeleen Burns, Kells; Paul, Gibbstown; Emmet, Gibbstown; grandchildren; sister, Bernadette, Fanad; sons-in-law; nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. ______________________________________________________________ Gerry Donnelly, St Peter's College, Dunboyne On Thursday, 25th February, St Peter's College, Dunboyne lost a very special member of staff when Mr Gerry Donnelly passed away in St Francis' Hospice, Raheny. Mr Donnelly began his career in O'Connell's CBS in 1982 and spent sixteen years there, teaching maths, science and chemistry. During that time, he earned a reputation as a hardworking, inspiring teacher, who brought tremendous energy and enthusiasm to his work. Students and teachers alike, who turned up in large numbers at his funeral, remember well his dedication to the academic and pastoral dimensions of his job. His positive outlook on life never deserted him, even in the final stages of his illness. Mr Donnelly moved to St Peter's in 1998 and picked up where he had left off, teaching students of all ability levels with equal care and commitment to high standards. Outside the classroom he introduced many students to Tae Kwan Do/kick boxing and shared this interest with them as many worked their way to joining him at black belt level. He also brought many groups to outdoor pursuit centres, reflecting his own lifelong interest in hiking and hill-walking. He packed a lot into his fifty years. He travelled the world, often leading groups on walking tours in Europe and further afield. His philosophy was to live life to the full, enjoy nature, people and culture and never stop learning. He took up Spanish a number of years ago and loved to use it when he travelled. And even when his illness had begun to show itself, he undertook a masters in guidance and counselling in Trinity College and was conferred with honours, in St Francis' Hospice, a week before his death. It was a fitting tribute and honour to an outstanding educationalist and promoter of lifelong learning. Mr Donnelly was laid to rest on Sunday, 28th February, in his mother's home place of Belmont, Co Offaly. He will be sadly missed by his partner, Mary; cousin Vincent and the numerous relatives, friends and colleagues who were privileged to get to know him during his short, but very full, lifetime. ______________________________________________________________ Veronica Heavey, Ballinabrackey Ballinabrackey, Castlejordan and the surrounding areas were shocked and saddened to hear the news of the sudden death of Ms Veronica Heavey, Ballinbrackey, Kinnegad, who passed away at Mullingar Hospital on 18th February. A daughter of the late Jack and Elizabeth Heavey, Ms Heavey (67) will be remembered as a true Christian and a wonderful friend and neighbour who reached out the hand of friendship to friend and stranger alike. She was a regular visitor to the sick, the elderly and the lonely in their homes, in hospitals and nursing homes, brightening their day with prayer, chat and humour, and if she could not visit, she contacted them by phone. Ms Heavey never had a bad word to say about anyone and always saw the good in everyone. She took part in many church activities, the choir in Ballinabrackey being her main concern. She worked tirelessly for the choir, encouraging children and young people to join. Ms Heavey is survived by her sisters Maureen and Sr Laboure, and brother, Mick. The funeral took place from Ballinabrackey Church to Kilkieran Cemetery. ______________________________________________________________ Joseph Murray, Dunboyne Mr Joseph Murray, St Peter's Park, Dunboyne, who passed away on 5th March last, was son of Margaret and the late Jack Murray. A lorry driver with Thorntons, he was aged 53 years. Deceased is survived by his son, Robert Barrett; mother, Margaret; brothers, Raymond and Brendan; sisters, Dympna and Marie; nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law; friends; and neighbours. The funeral took place from the Church of Ss Peter and Paul, Dunboyne, to Baltinglass Cemetery.