Obituaries 14th December 2013
Fr Seamus Giles, Castletown Geoghegan
The death occurred on Sunday of Fr Seamus Giles, parish priest of Castletown Geoghegan, Co Westmeath. Fr Giles, who had just turned 74, died at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, after battling illness for over a year.
A native of Longwood, Fr Giles was son of the late Laurence and Betty Giles, and he was educated at St Finian’s College, Mullingar, and Maynooth College.
Ordained in June 1965, his first appointment was to Mullingar Parish, from where he went to Tullamore for 10 years before being appointed curate of Clara. He also served in Kells.
In 1991, he was appointed parish priest of Dysart, and in 1997, he was transferred to Castletown-Geoghegan.
He was a keen sportsman in his youth, enjoying GAA, tennis and swimming, and while an accident put paid to his participation in more physical sports, he became an avid golfer, and was a member of Mullingar Golf Club.
Fr Giles was an honorary president of the GAA in Castletown-Geoghegan. He also enjoyed horse racing, and loved nothing better than an evening at Kilbeggan races.
His commitment and dedication to his parish, its people, and its activities, were beyond description, and he gave unstintingly of his time and effort.
Unfortunately, he became ill in 2012, and while he battled bravely, even attempting to return to work in the autumn of this year, his health let him down, and he was again hospitalised.
Fr Giles is survived by his brothers, Laurence, and Fergal, Longwood, Pat, Dublin, and sisters, Nancy Taylor, Dublin and Mary Hayes, Longwood; nephews, nieces, cousins, parishioners, fellow clergy and friends. He was predeceased by his brother, Michael.
Patricia Lynch, Dublin and Navan
There was widespread shock in the Deaf community in Ireland and abroad following the sudden death of Patricia Lynch, Sutton, Co Dublin, at Beaumont Hospital on 29th October last, aged 68.
Patricia (Pat) was born Deaf on 11th April 1945 in the Royal Bank House, Church Hill, Navan, the fourth child of bank manager, Edward Breslin, and his wife, Beatrice. She attended St Mary’s School for Deaf Girls, Navan Road, Cabra, Dublin, from 1950 to 1963.
With the encouragement of their father, Pat and her sister, Wendy, became the first Deaf female drivers to obtain driving licences when the new driving test law was introduced in 1964.
Pat was involved in the committee of St Vincent’s Club for the Deaf in Rathmines, from 1966 to 1990s, and participated in sports activities that took place in the grounds of St Joseph’s School for Deaf Boys, Cabra for many years, often winning prizes, and ran mini-marathons for the Deaf Women Group in Dublin.
On 6th August 1968, Patricia married tailor Kevin Lynch, also Deaf, in Donnybrook Church, Dublin, and daughter, Nicola, and son, Andrew, followed. Deceased was a good craft maker and created sea shell art which her aunt, Eileen Boyle, taught her. The shelled statues and flowers were created from marine shells collected by Eileen on Irish beaches from the 1950s to 1970s.
When her children had grown up, Patricia studies for the Diploma in Irish Sign Language (ISL) teaching in Trinity College, Dublin, and was awarded her diploma in 2003. She taught ISL to hearing students in Dublin and around the country for many years, until retiring in 2010.
She was also a good singer and proud of Deaf culture, and became an avid volunteer with the Rainbow Club for Deaf Blind Adults for may years, where she was regarded with affection and will be remembered for her kindness and helpfulness.
Her pride and joy were her grandchildren, Nicola’s children, Oscar and Dan in London, and Andrew’s son, Henry, in Dublin, and was always delighted to babysit them.
Patricia is survived by her husband, Kevin; daughter, Nicola; son, Andrew; grandchildren; brothers, David and Derrig Breslin; sisters, Gloria Marah, Wendy Murray, and Stella Healy; son-in-law; daughter-in-law; nephews; nieces; and a large circle of friends.
The funeral Mass took place from the Church of the Resurrection, Bayside, Sutton, to Glasnevin Crematorium.
Mary O’Reilly, Kells and England
The regretted death of Mary (Mae) O’Reilly occurred on 18th November last at Maidstone Care Home, Kent, United Kingdom. Aged 92, she was a member of the Fitzsimons family of the well-known former bakery in Kells.
Deceased was a resident of Hampstead and later Finchley in London since moving from Ireland in 1955.
Mae was born in John Street, Kells, in 1921.
As well as the bakery, the family also set up the first lager brewery in the Republic in the late 1930s, based on the German Bavarian model of brewing. Her father, Patrick Fitzsimons established a farm with race horse facilities at Cookstown, Kells, in the 1920s. After running a shop in Dublin during the 1940s, Mae worked for many years at Chic Fashion Boutique in Hampstead.
She was a member of the Mill Hill Golf Club and the Highgate and Hampstead Bridge Clubs in London for many years. She retired from club bridge playing at the age of 90 years.
She was proud of her Irish heritage and also of her 14 great grandchildren. Mae loved Gaelic football and was delighted when the Fitzsimons Cup inter-county tournament was re-launched a few years ago.
After a funeral Mass she was interned at Hertford Cemetery, Hertfordshire, where her husband John Francis O’Reilly was interned in 2002. She is survived by her brother Philip Fitzsimons, and her family, Dorothy, Avril, Sean and Vincent.
Barbara Hoye, Navan
There was widespread sadness following the sudden death at her home on 23rd November last of Barbara Hoye, Troytown Heights, Navan, at the age of 62.
A native of the Boyne Road, Navan, she was eldest daughter of the late Patrick Boyle, a well-known building contractor, and his wife, Mary (Mollie).
Barbara had an artistic bent and an acute eye for fashion, having worked in Penneys and Winstons in Dublin, and in Geoghegans, Navan.
Deceased was a devoted homemaker who always put her husband and family first.
Barbara is survived by her mother, Mollie Boyle; husband, Martin Hoye; sisters, Ann Whiteside, London; Pat Harlin, Drogheda, Julie McKeown, Dublin, Edel McLaughlin, Dublin; brother, Paireac Boyle, Navan; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews; cousins; extended family and friends.
The funeral took place from St Oliver’s Church, Blackcastle, Navan, to St Finian’s Cemetery, celebrated by Fr Declan Hurley, Adm, Navan.
?
May Kearney, Carlanstown
The regretted death occurred on 15th November last of May Kearney, Deerpark, Carlanstown, Kells, at her home. Aged 65, she was a native of Kells and a member of the Rourke family.
She is survived by her daughters, Sharon, Vivienne, and Rachel; son, Stuart; sisters, brothers; grandsons; great grandsons; nieces; nephews; close friends and neighbours.
The funeral Mass took place in Kilbeg Church, followed by cremation in Glasnevin Crematorium.
Phelim Smyth, Navan
There was much sadness following the death on 10th November last of Phelim Smyth, Bective House, Beaufort Place, Navan.
He was aged 57 and passed away unexpectedly at his home.
Son of the late Felix and Nancy Smyth, he is survived by his family, Karen, Elaine, Louise, Jane, and Ann; brothers and sisters, Pat, Andy, Kevin, Aidan, Ann, Mary and Una; and grandson, Tom.
The funeral took place from St Oliver’s Church, Navan, to St Mary’s Cemetery.
Tom Caffrey, Oldcastle
The death occurred on 3rd September last of Tom Caffrey, Millbrook, Oldcastle, who will be remembered as a great family man, friend and employer. He was aged 56.
Chief executive of Millbrook Foods, Tom had worked from his childhood in what was formerly an egg production and marketing family business founded by his father, Jim. Tom took over the running of the company when aged 29, on his father’s passing, initially with the day-to-day involvement of his mother, Kathleen.
He developed the company’s capacity and range with remarkable prowess and flair and it is now a significant player in the distribution of fresh and frozen foods and edible oils market.
The company offers quality and service to the catering, wholesale and food manufacturing sectors.
The Millbrook Food Market for retail sales is a recent addition, showing both Tom’s respect for the past tradition of a shop in Millbrook and his quest for seeking out the next area of development.
His business legacy comprises a robust company employing 30 dedicated staff, carrying a vast product range with key suppliers in Ireland and across Europe, and a host of loyal customers countrywide, all contributing to the continued growth of the company. Tom and the staff were friends as well as colleagues, and many remained with Millbrook Foods for over 30 years.
Tom was an exceptional family man. Growing up in Millbrook and going to school in Rockwell College, County Tipperary, he loved to share many stories about the faces and characters he met along the way. His interests were wide-ranging.
He loved sport generally, and Munster rugby in particular. He treasured short breaks in the West of Ireland or on the Continent. He also enjoyed walking, cycling, reading, history, current affairs, poetry, literature and music.
All of these passions were shared with and passed onto his friends and family. A big man with the gentlest of natures, no matter how busy his day Tom always had time for an interested chat with whomever he met.
Tom’s funeral Mass on 7th September prompted an extraordinary turnout, surprising those closest to him at how such a hardworking, modest person had touched the lives of so many. The hundreds of attendees included friends and neighbours in the local communities with which Tom was associated, namely Millbrook, Oldcastle and Virginia. Additionally, personal and business acquaintances within Ireland and abroad travelled to express sympathy to the most closely affected and sadly bereaved on Tom’s untimely passing.
'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. For boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now' - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Margaret Carroll, Kiltale
Mrs Margaret (Peg) Carroll, late of Kiltale and Clonbun, Trim, who died on 16th November last was formerly Margaret Butterly of Pike Corner.
She passed away, aged 95, in the loving care of the staff of St Joseph’s Community Nursing Unit, Trim.
Mrs Carroll was predeceased by her husband, Dan, in 1981 and by her daughter, Marie, in 1999.
She is survived by her sons, Jim, Donegal; Martin, Wales; Donie, Navan; Joe, Trim, and Barney, Trim; daughters, Rose Murray, Trim; Lena Murray, Trim; Peggy Cottrell, Dunshaughlin; Dette Whelan, Kiltale, and Chrissy Keoghan, Trim; daughters-in-law, Aggie, Martina, Jan, Monica and Mag; sons-in-law, Larry, Hillary and Georgie; brother, Peter, Trim; sisters, Dot, Trim; Fran, Dublin; Josie, England, and Tess, United States; grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchild, nieces and nephews.
The funeral took place from St Patrick’s Church, Trim, to Kiltale Cemetery.
Kathleen Monaghan, Oldcastle
Mrs Kathleen Monaghan, Liss, Oldcastle, who has died aged 91, was formerly Kathleen Smith of Summerbank Cross, Oldcastle.
Mrs Monaghan, who died at Cavan Hospital on 3rd November last, was a daughter of the late James and Margaret Smith.
She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas, in December 1984.
The late Mrs Monaghan was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and a kind neighbour. In her younger years, she was a keen gardener and took great pride in her flowers.
Deceased is survived by her daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, Liss; Brigid Shoebridge, Dublin, and Margaret Quinn, Birmingham; grandchildren, Graham, Nichola, Jason, Anthony, John and Roderick; great grandchildren, Jessica, Chantelle, Dalton, Brittany, Thomas, Declan, Corey, Dillon and Thomas; son-in-law, Maurice; nephews, nieces and other relatives.
The funeral Mass took place on 5th November in St Brigid’s Church, Oldcastle, followed by interment in the local cemetery.
Robert Weldon, Kilcock
The sudden death recently place at the age of 44 of Mr Robert Brian Weldon, Drumlargan, Kilcock.
A native of Summerhill and a son of Bernard and Ronnie Weldon, Mr Weldon lived in Dublin for most of his life, returning to Navan four years ago.
The late Mr Weldon was a carpenter by trade and was also a very talented artist.
He loved working with his hands. Football loomed large in his life as well and he was a keen Meath and Summerhill supporter. He was also a very talented guitarist and had a great love of music.
Deceased is survived by his son, Ryan Finglas, Dublin; sisters, Fiona, Lisa, Siobhan and Martina Weldon, Drumlargan, and brother Fergus, Drumlargan.
The funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of the Assumption, Coole, and burial took place afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.