Obituaries 27-04-2013

Gerry Renehan, Athboy

There was widespread regret in the Athboy and Kells areas, and in greater golfing circles, following the passing on 30th March last, of Mr Gerry Renehan, who farmed at Ballyboy House, Athboy, and was a prominent member of Headfort Golf Club and a past member of the Leinster Provincial Council. He died at home after a brave battle with a recurring illness, aged 74.
Deceased was born on 1st May 1938 at Ballyboy House, where he was also to pass away, and had farmed all his life, first at Nugentstown, Kells and then back home at Ballyboy, where he was involved in mixed farming, mainly tillage and sheep.
He was educated at St Finian’s College, Mullingar, and remained an active member of the Past Pupils Union there.
Sport played a very important role throughout Mr Renehan’s life. He played both football and hurling with Athboy for many years. He also lined out for Meath in both hurling and football, winning a Leinster medal, for football, in 1958.
But it is his love of the game of golf and his affinity with Headfort Golf Club for which deceased will be most fondly remembered. An accomplished player, he played off single figure handicap for most of his playing career.
He won Provincial Towns cup honours with Headfort in 1975 and the went on to manage the Headfort team to success in the same competition in 1997. He also won the Leinster Barton Cup with Headfort in 1994. His greatest honour for the club came in 2001 when he was appointed as captain of Headfort. In the lead up to this he devoted much of his time in the late nineties to encouraging and assisting with the development of the 'New Course’ in Headfort. Up until the days before he passed he would still say, with a certain degree of bias, that it is “one of the best courses in the country”
He loved and respected the game of golf and always played in the true spirit of the game. He continued playing right up until the end of last year.
In 1989, Gerry Renehan’s enthusiasm for golf led him to join the Leinster Branch’s Standard Scratch Score and Course Rating Committee. This body visited all newly established and existing clubs to measure and access the suitability of such courses to be affiliated, confirm measurements and issue each course with a Standard Scratch Score, bringing it into line with all other courses. In this role, he accumulated extensive knowledge of most courses in the Province and in particular the most recently established courses such as Killeen Castle, K Club, and Knightsbrook.
Later, Mr Renehan joined the Leinster Branch Match Committee and together with Kevin McIntyre and Joe Carroll became the recognisable face of the GUI at all tournaments and inter-club events in North Leinster. Over the years his involvement grew steadily and he was elected to the Leinster Branch at the annual delegates meeting of 2003.
A tribute from Leinster GUI described him as known for his relaxed, patient and even-handed approach when administrating at inter-club events.
The GUI added: “In the northern part of the province all inter-club golfers were familiar with Gerry’s relaxed and even-handed manner of adjudicating at matches. He was always available to clubs both new and old, offering his counsel and guidance to officers and members whenever requested. Gerry gave total commitment to the branch and in particular to the upcoming golfers in the province. Gerry has given great encouragement and support to upcoming golfers such as Shane Lowry and the many excellent young golfers from his own club, Headfort - Brian Casey, Rory McNamara and many others. Everyone that met and knew Gerry will say the same “he was a true gentleman”.
The tribute concluded by saying that Leinster golf owes a great debt of gratitude to Mr Renehan for his contribution to the branch and to the game of golf over his lifetime.
Last April, Mr Renehan and his wife, Eileen, celebrated 50 years of marriage. He is survived by Eileen; their family, Geraldine, Damian, Des, Aileen and Rita; sons-in-law and daughters-in-law; grandchildren; sisters, Maureen and Olivia; brothers, Eamon and Jimmy; brothers in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. A month’s memory Mass takes place on Sunday 5th May at 11.30am, in St James’ Church, Athboy.

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Helen Lennon, Longwood and Dublin

 

The death occurred last week, after short illness, of Helen Lennon, Goatstown, Dublin, a former Irish international tennis player, who began playing as a member of the Longwood club.
Ms Lennon, who moved from Wexford to Longwood with her family when their father became a garda there, was 66 and died at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, after an illness of less than two months. She was married to the former Irish Independent golf and rugby correspondent Colm Smith.
Her career in tennis began with the founding of the local tennis club in Longwood in 1954, two years after the family’s arrival there from Wexford. The Lennon children, family of Arthur and Bridget, were very sporting, all involved in the club, while her brothers played hurling. Helen had no problem getting involved in football games if the lads needed to make up a seven-a-side, her brothers recall. The family lived in Longwood for a decade, until Arthur was transferred to the Garda Depot in Dublin in 1961. Deceased took up a position as secretary to the president of Castleknock College.
The Irish tennis community will remember Helen Lennon as a very accomplished international level player who went on to act as non-playing captain to the Irish Fed Cup team in the early 1980s. In more recent times, she had a well established reputation as one of Ireland’s leading coaches. Garda, Glasnevin and Elm Park were the clubs with which she was most associated in her later playing years.
As Irish number one through the early 1970s, she was an automatic selection on the Fed Cup team and competed against some of the world’s leading players, including Martina Navratilova, Evonne Goolagong, Virginia Wade, Betty Stove, Sue Barker and Billy Jean King. She represented Ireland in Fed Cup in a total of eleven ties.
She won a number of national singles titles and many of the top domestic tournaments.
Deceased was accomplished in other sports also and for a period was manager of the Irish squash team. Under her stewardship the national side finished fifth once and fourth twice in world championships during the 1980s. She become a highly regarded professional tennis coach and is particularly fondly remembered in Blackrock Bowling and Tennis Club where she taught with patience and a smile. She was a class one badminton player. Ms Lennon was also a former lady captain of Woodbrook Golf Club. Playing off a modest 12 handicap, her golfing prowess was widely envied in addition to her  mastery of the game of tennis.
More recently she was key to the revival of the Women’s 36 hole Scratch Cup at Woodbrook. A major event in the ILGU’s Scratch Cup Circuit, the tournament attracts a field of Ireland’s top women amateur golfers on an annual basis.
Deceased will be fondly remembered as an outstanding sportswoman who was never short of an encouraging word for her fellow competitors and, in particular, talented juniors. A role-model in the promotion of women’s sport, she loved life, laughed lots and regularly. Her characteristic good humour and sense of fun will be sadly missed by her many sporting companions and lifelong friends.
She is survived by her husband, Colm; brothers, Paddy, Leixlip,  Peter, Castleknock and Arthur, Rathfarnham; sisters, Kathleen Madden, Marshallstown, Kilmessan and Rosaleen Prescott, Naas; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends.
Her funeral took place on Thursday morning last from the Church of The Holy Cross, Dundrum, to Shanganagh Cemetery.

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Alacoque Coffey, Dunderry

The death of Mrs Margaret Alacoque Coffey, known as Alacoque, of Churchtown, Dunderry, on 2nd April last, was the source of widespread sadness.
Aged 91, she passed away at Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown. Predeceased by her husband, Patrick Coffey, in 1977, she was a member of the Brady family of Churchtown.
Deceased lived a full and active life, and despite her advanced years, enjoyed baking, bingo and socialising up until a few months ago. She attended Loreto Daycare fortnightly for the last 25 years, which she thoroughly enjoyed and looked forward to. Mrs Coffey will be remembered as a great mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and will be sadly missed by her family and all who knew her.
Deceased is survived by her daughters, Evelyn Brady, Ongenstown, Bohermeen; May Higgins, Cortown, Kells; sons, Frank Coffey, Bohermeen, Joseph, London, and Pat, Churchtown, Dunderry; sons-in-law, daughter-in-law; grandchildren; great grandchildren; relatives and friends.
The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Dunderry, to the local cemetery. A month’s memory Mass takes place in Dunderry on Saturday 4th May, at 7.30pm.

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Betty Colfer, Kilbride

The death took place on 28th March last of Mrs Betty Colfer, Kilrue, Kilbride, at the age of 82. Originally from Cabra, Dublin, deceased moved to Sligo as a young girl when her mother passed away, returning to Kilbride as a young woman, where she met and married David Colfer. Their early married life was spent in Co Kildare where David worked as a farm hand, but they moved back to Kilbride once again in the mid ‘50s where she remained until her death.
Dedicated to rearing her young family, Mrs Colfer was extremely involved in the local community, sitting on school and parochial committees for many years, and was a long time member of Kilbride ICA. In later years, she was involved in Ratoath and Ashbourne Active Aged Groups and made many good friends.
Deceased was very much a family person and took a keen interest in the lives of her adoring grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is predeceased by her husband, David, in 2008 and is survived by her daughters, Margaret Rafferty, Cabinhill; Veronica O’Neill, Kilbride;  Therese Donohue, Fairyhouse Road; Lillian Colfer, Ashbourne; Rose Colfer, Kilbride; son James, Kilbride; sisters, Vera Hyland and Rose Mullin; sons-in-law; daughter-in-law; grandchildren; great grandchildren; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; and a large circle of relatives and friends.
Following the funeral Mass, burial took place in the local cemetery and a month’s memory Mass takes place in Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath, on Sunday 28th April at 12.15pm.

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Jenny Martin, Kingscourt

The regretted death occurred on 11th April last of Mrs Jenny Martin, Dunheeda, Kingscourt, peacefully at her home, aged 61.
A member of the Carolan family, she worked in Cabra Castle in the 1980s, and for John and Mary Brennan, Kingscourt, for 14 years. She loved music and singing, and was devoted to her family and grandchildren.
Mrs Martin is survived by her husband, Kevin, Dunheeda; sons, Kevin, Dun na Ri, Kingscourt; Celestine Martin, Cortubber, Kingscourt; Spillane Martin, Kingscourt; daughter, Aisling Martin, Dunheeda; daughters-in-law, Mary, Geraldine and Joanne; and grandchildren, Carri, Daryl, Conrad, Dean, Kyle, Jake, Kourtney, Grace; extended family, relatives and friends.
The funeral took place from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kingscourt with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. A month’s memory Mass will take place on Thursday 9th May at 8pm in the Church of St Patrick and St Bridget, Meath Hill.
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Margaret Kane, Athboy

Mrs Margaret Kane, Wardstown, Athboy, who died on 2nd April last, was a member of the Smith family, Bohermeen. She passed away at St Elizabeth’s Nursing Home, Athboy, aged 88.
Mrs Kane was predeceased by her husband, Robert, in 1974, and is survived by her family, William, Athboy; Joseph, Southampton; Marie Kieran, Athboy; granddaughters; great grandson; son-in-law; daughter-in-law; sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews; relatives and friends.
The funeral took place from St Laurence’s Church, Rathmore, to the adjoining cemetery. A month’s memory Mass will take place in Rathmore on Sunday 5th May at 9am.
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Samuel Cochrane, Fordstown

The death occurred on 5th April last, at St Joseph’s Nursing Unit, Trim, of Mr Samuel Cochrane, Garristown, Fordstown, aged 84.
A native of Mullagh, he farmed for 40 years at Garristown where he had a dairy herd, until retiring in 1992. Deceased had a great interest in Meath football and enjoyed seeing the team being successful.
He is survived by his sister, Violet Jackson, Newtownards, her husband, Jack, and family, Linda, Joyce, Ivan and Eric; and nephews and nieces, Mervyn, Kinnear, Killinkere, Virginia; Lester, Bailieboro; Shirley Nesbitt, Killinkere; Valerie Middleton, Mountain Lodge; and Beverly Harrison, Monaghan, family of his late sister, Gladys Kinnear. He was also predeceased by his brother, Dickie.
The funeral was from Mervyn Kinnear’s home to Killinkere Church of Ireland, where a service was conducted by Rev John Clarke, Navan, and Archdeacon Craig McAuley of Virginia group of parishes, followed by burial in the family plot.

ffey,
Dunderry
The death of Mrs Margaret Alacoque Coffey, known as Alacoque, of Churchtown, Dunderry, on 2nd April last, was the source of widespread sadness.
Aged 91, she passed away at Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown. Predeceased by her husband, Patrick Coffey, in 1977, she was a member of the Brady family of Churchtown.
Deceased lived a full and active life, and despite her advanced years, enjoyed baking, bingo and socialising up until a few months ago. She attended Loreto Daycare fortnightly for the last 25 years, which she thoroughly enjoyed and looked forward to. Mrs Coffey will be remembered as a great mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and will be sadly missed by her family and all who knew her.
Deceased is survived by her daughters, Evelyn Brady, Ongenstown, Bohermeen; May Higgins, Cortown, Kells; sons, Frank Coffey, Bohermeen, Joseph, London, and Pat, Churchtown, Dunderry; sons-in-law, daughter-in-law; grandchildren; great grandchildren; relatives and friends.
The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Dunderry, to the local cemetery. A month’s memory Mass takes place in Dunderry on Saturday 4th May, at 7.30pm.


Betty Colfer,
Kilbride

The death took place on 28th March last of Mrs Betty Colfer, Kilrue, Kilbride, at the age of 82. Originally from Cabra, Dublin, deceased moved to Sligo as a young girl when her mother passed away, returning to Kilbride as a young woman, where she met and married David Colfer. Their early married life was spent in Co Kildare where David worked as a farm hand, but they moved back to Kilbride once again in the mid ‘50s where she remained until her death.
Dedicated to rearing her young family, Mrs Colfer was extremely involved in the local community, sitting on school and parochial committees for many years, and was a long time member of Kilbride ICA. In later years, she was involved in Ratoath and Ashbourne Active Aged Groups and made many good friends.
Deceased was very much a family person and took a keen interest in the lives of her adoring grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is predeceased by her husband, David, in 2008 and is survived by her daughters, Margaret Rafferty, Cabinhill; Veronica O’Neill, Kilbride;  Therese Donohue, Fairyhouse Road; Lillian Colfer, Ashbourne; Rose Colfer, Kilbride; son James, Kilbride; sisters, Vera Hyland and Rose Mullin; sons-in-law; daughter-in-law; grandchildren; great grandchildren; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; and a large circle of relatives and friends.
Following the funeral Mass, burial took place in the local cemetery and a month’s memory Mass takes place in Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath, on Sunday 28th April at 12.15pm.


Jenny Martin,
Kingscourt
The regretted death occurred on 11th April last of Mrs Jenny Martin, Dunheeda, Kingscourt, peacefully at her home, aged 61.
A member of the Carolan family, she worked in Cabra Castle in the 1980s, and for John and Mary Brennan, Kingscourt, for 14 years. She loved music and singing, and was devoted to her family and grandchildren.
Mrs Martin is survived by her husband, Kevin, Dunheeda; sons, Kevin, Dun na Ri, Kingscourt; Celestine Martin, Cortubber, Kingscourt; Spillane Martin, Kingscourt; daughter, Aisling Martin, Dunheeda; daughters-in-law, Mary, Geraldine and Joanne; and grandchildren, Carri, Daryl, Conrad, Dean, Kyle, Jake, Kourtney, Grace; extended family, relatives and friends.
The funeral took place from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kingscourt with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. A month’s memory Mass will take place on Thursday 9th May at 8pm in the Church of St Patrick and St Bridget, Meath Hill.



Margaret Kane,
Athboy
Mrs Margaret Kane, Wardstown, Athboy, who died on 2nd April last, was a member of the Smith family, Bohermeen. She passed away at St Elizabeth’s Nursing Home, Athboy, aged 88.
Mrs Kane was predeceased by her husband, Robert, in 1974, and is survived by her family, William, Athboy; Joseph, Southampton; Marie Kieran, Athboy; granddaughters; great grandson; son-in-law; daughter-in-law; sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews; relatives and friends.
The funeral took place from St Laurence’s Church, Rathmore, to the adjoining cemetery. A month’s memory Mass will take place in Rathmore on Sunday 5th May at 9am.


Samuel Cochrane,
Fordstown
The death occurred on 5th April last, at St Joseph’s Nursing Unit, Trim, of Mr Samuel Cochrane, Garristown, Fordstown, aged 84.
A native of Mullagh, he farmed for 40 years at Garristown where he had a dairy herd, until retiring in 1992. Deceased had a great interest in Meath football and enjoyed seeing the team being successful.
He is survived by his sister, Violet Jackson, Newtownards, her husband, Jack, and family, Linda, Joyce, Ivan and Eric; and nephews and nieces, Mervyn, Kinnear, Killinkere, Virginia; Lester, Bailieboro; Shirley Nesbitt, Killinkere; Valerie Middleton, Mountain Lodge; and Beverly Harrison, Monaghan, family of his late sister, Gladys Kinnear. He was also predeceased by his brother, Dickie.
The funeral was from Mervyn Kinnear’s home to Killinkere Church of Ireland, where a service was conducted by Rev John Clarke, Navan, and Archdeacon Craig McAuley of Virginia group of parishes, followed by burial in the family plot.