Tiernan Byrne (4th April 1988 - 13th March 2014)

Obituaries 12th April 2014

Tiernan Byrne, Trim

Tiernan Byrne’s courage and bravery set an example for his friends and family, and will be a great source of hope and inspiration for them, as they go on through their lives.

His illness was something he accepted without anger or self-pity, and he took the challenges of every day life in his stride. Tiernan lived by a quote from ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, which he studied for his Junior Certificate: 'Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.'

The 25 year-old from Scurlogstown, Trim, died on 13th March, following a decade-long illness. Family and friends remembered his life in St Patrick’s Church, Trim, on St Patrick’s Day, joining his parents, local teachers Tom Byrne and Gemma E Kiernan, his sister Alanna, and relatives to bid him farewell.

Tiernan was recalled as a warm, caring, affectionate son and brother. He enjoyed the simple things in life, spending time with his family, friends and pets. He reached out to help others and counted his many blessings, living each day with a deep sense of gratitude and humility.

At the beginning of his Funeral Mass, 25 candles were lit from his Baptismal candle, representing the 25 years of his life. The candles also symbolised hope, something that Tiernan had in abundance, from the moment he received his initial diagnosis in 2003, to his peaceful passing.

He lived a very rich life and had many friends. He had a love of travel and a deep passion for sport, with a hurley, golf ball and swimming goggles brought in the presentation of symbols of his life.

University and education were an important part of Tiernan’s life. Studying engineering, he completed his undergraduate degree in UCD, and continued post-graduate research at PhD level, and was determined to carry on with his studies and research.

Everyone who knew Tiernan recognised the warmth and generosity of his character. In recent years, he raised money for the Movember campaign, sporting an impressive moustache.

During the presentation of symbols, a representation of an astrocyte tumour cell was brought to the altar. Tiernan was very proud that his unusual tumour cells are being used for medical research in the Dana-Farber Institute in Boston in the United States. He was treated at this centre, and also received great care at the Beacon Hospital, Dublin, where he passed away.

Born on 4th April 1988, Tiernan attended St Mary’s and St Michael’s primary schools in Trim, and Boyne Community School, before pursuing his third-level studies. Family and friends took part in his funeral, celebrated by Fr Sean Henry, PP.

The remembrance service recalled Tiernan’s rich life, with his family and friends bringing forward symbols of family, friends, travel, sports, honey, water, education, charity and sickness. The soloist was Jeremy Morgan, accompanied by Jane Lynch.

Cremation took place at Mount Jerome crematorium, Dublin. Donations to The Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston) on Tiernan’s behalf are appreciated and welcomed. See myjimmyfundpage.org/give/tiernanbyrne

A group of Tiernan’s friends will be taking part in the Four Peaks Challenge over the August Bank Holiday weekend in aid of the fund.

Ann Reilly, Navan

There was widespread sadness following the death on 26th February last of Ann Reilly, Academy Street, Navan. She passed away peacefully at her daughter’s residence in Dunderry, surrounded by her family, aged 71.

Born in Parnell Park, Navan, and later living at McDermott Villas, she was daughter of the late Thomas and Bridget McGillick.

Deceased attended Mercy Convent and later the technical school which she credited for instilling in her important practical life skills. A trained book-keeper, she worked in Hoggs Furniture factory until her marriage to Seamus Reilly in 1964 and later in life worked for Connor’s Textiles Factory on the Kells Road until its closure, and for Patricia Holohon & Company, Solicitors, until her retirement.

With Seamus, she built up a joinery business on Academy Street, and dedicated herself to rearing her large family, always encouraging her children to pursue further education and travel.

In later years, she greatly enjoyed travelling to visit her children living abroad and had many wonderful holidays to USA, UK and the Netherlands, always showing a huge interest in the history and traditions of the places she visited. She was a proud grandmother of 15 grandchildren and took great delight in showing her visiting grandchildren off around the town.

Ann was a privately devout woman and took great comfort from her faith. It was always centred around giving back to the community, including her long service as a Eucharistic Minister and her work with the Legion of Mary which saw her visit slums in Glasgow.

She would speak often of what she learned from the modesty and humility of people who had so little. Ann took great solace in visiting the Marian shrine in Knock and, following her treatment in 2002, found tremendous peace and renewal from a visit to the shrine at Lourdes with the Meath Pilgrimage.

She was a valued neighbour, always tending to those who needed help and giving whatever she could in a quiet unassuming way. A founding member of Navan Theatre Group, this outlet provided her with many years of pleasure and firm friends. Although she would tell you she did very little in the group, she was the go-to person along with being the first point of contact for new members.

With careful attention, she would gently encourage people enquiring about the group to come along to the next meeting and that their contribution would be very welcome.

Deceased was a proud Navan woman who took every aspect of the town’s development seriously, and wasn’t afraid to write a letter when the need arose. She was delighted when Navan Historical Society was formed and attended nearly every meeting. To her, local history was less a pastime, more a key to understanding who she was as a person and how her cultural background shaped her life and those of her children and later grandchildren.

She will be remembered as being practical to a fault and was always prepared for all eventualities down to candles and matches ready in the event of a power cut and spare salt cellar in the car for the bag of chips at the seaside.

Ann bore her illness with quiet strength and dignity and never complained. To the end, she worried more about her family, friends and neighbours than herself. She will be remembered as an extraordinary daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother who had the ability to make whoever she was talking to feel like they were the most important in the world and always in receipt of her full attention.

She will be sadly missed by her family and wide circle of friends at home and abroad. Ann was predeceased in 2008 by her husband, Seamus, and is survived by her family, Seamus, Illinois, USA; Aileen Jones, Cheltenham, UK; Joan Katinas, New York, USA; Paul Reilly, Hulst, the Netherlands; Nuala Reilly, Cardiff, UK; Bernadette Leather, Kettering, UK; Noreen McManus, Dunderry; their wives and partners, Maeve, John, Eric, Joanne, Lisa, Andrew and Denis; grandchildren, Sinead, Ciara, Aidan, Diarmuid, Samuel, Nia, Alys, Rebecca, Chloe, Hannah, Pearse, Harrison, Arianne, Grace and Daniel; sister, Patricia Parrish, Rugby, UK, and Paul McGillick, Drogheda; extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Her funeral took place from St Mary’s Church, Navan, to St Mary’s Cemetery.

Wardy O'Sullivan, Kilbride

Edward (Wardy) O’Sullivan, Kilrue, Ratoath, who has died aged 75, is remembered as an outstanding clubman, both as a player and administrator, with Kilbride Gaelic Football Club.

He captained the Kilbride team which won the Keegan Cup in 1964, and was on five senior championship winning-teams, three Feis Cup-winning teams, and also won junior and intermediate championships.

He also played minor football with Meath for a period.

He was on teams that faced Kells, Skryne and Navan O’Mahonys in senior county finals, and many of his former footballing adversaries attended his recent funeral in Ratoath.

Team mate Martin Quinn recalls him as one of the best centre half-backs of his era.

Wardy was responsible for the growth of football in Kilbride. With Paddy Marmion, he cycled to a Meath County Board meeting in Navan in the 1950s to register a juvenile team, and became the backbone of the club for years after. He served as treasurer for a long term, and was very thorough with the books.

From farming stock, he opened a shop near Kilbride, and later moved to a larger shop in Finglas, Dublin. Later again, he operated a minibus, undertaking school runs and bringing people to dance halls and football games, and was known to at least three generations of local folk. He was always in good humour and was a very popular personality.

Wardy died peacefully at the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin on 29th March. He was predeceased by his sister, Eileen, and is survived by his brothers, Stan, Oliver, Patrick, TD, Gabriel and Danny; sisters, Terry, Gretta, Claire and Rachael; brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends.

The funeral took place from The Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath, to Greenogue Cemetery.

Patrick Murtagh, Trim

The death occurred peacefully at Knightsbridge Nursing Home, Trim, on 16th March last of Patrick Murtagh, Athboy Road, Trim. Aged 76, he was a native of Jamestown, Athboy.

Patrick was an avid GAA fan and, along with his brother Owen, enjoyed many outings to Croke Park where they were voluntary stewards.

Before his illness, he enjoyed reading, gardening and music. He particularly enjoyed spending time in the company of his grandchildren, Eimear, Ciarán, David, Michelle and Seán.

Patrick spent his last years in Knightsbridge Nursing Home where he enjoyed the exceptional care and kindness of the staff. He was predeceased by his wife, Teresa, in 2005 and also by his sisters, Catherine and Nancy.

He is survived by his sons, Brian, Michael and Gerard, all Trim, and his daughters, Claire Gilsenan, Ballinlough, Kells, and Marion Tobin, Walterstown, Navan; grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, brothers, Tom, Owen and John; sisters, Patricia, Elizabeth and Peggy, relations and friends.

The funeral Mass took place in St Patrick’s Church, Trim, and burial followed in St Loman’s Cemetery.