Obituaries 26th April 2014
Percy E Banahan, Donaghpatrick
The regretted death occurred on 27th March last at Our Lady’s Hospice, Harolds’s Cross, of Percy E Banahan, Moortown House, Donaghpatrick, Navan, aged 80. He was for many years a senior judge of the Irish Turf Club and bred racehorses for the flat.
Percy and his older brother, Joe, were born in Dublin soon after his mother and father moved east from Roscommon. Joe was a sea-farer and travelled the world before he finished his career with Irish Lights.
Percy followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps with his involvement with horses. His grandfather was a master of staghounds in Roscommon. His father trained both national hunt and flat horses in Tulsk, Co Roscommon, and was also a successful amateur rider in the early part of the last century.
The Banahan family maintained a great friendship with the well-known Harty racing family for many years. Captain Cyril B Harty was a renowned show jumper as well as trainer, and Percy started working for the Hartys in his early twenties, becoming almost like a member of the family. Previous to that he worked in England for several years. Percy rode as an amateur and was a good horseman. Shortly after meeting his future wife, Elaine, he travelled horses to the US in the mid-nineteen fifties. He met Elaine at the Harty home in Chapelizod in 1957. She and a friend were travelling in Ireland and called in to visit Mrs Win Harty, also an American and a friend of Elaine’s mother. After a courtship, mostly conducted by post and the odd visit when Percy was travelling to the US, they married in Rathgar, Dublin in 1962.
Previously to that Percy worked in Santa Barbara, California for Sir John Galvin, whose daughter was on the US Olympic team. Percy travelled a fair bit in the US and on the Continent with the horses. He returned to Ireland and again worked for Captain Harty and then Buster, Captain Harty’s older son. Percy and Buster were lifelong friends.
Percy and Elaine lived in Rathcoole, Co Dublin. They had four children, Joseph, Michael, Elizabeth and John. John was just two weeks old when the family moved to Kilcarn in Navan and subsequently to Old Athlumney. Percy and Elaine bought a small farm in the Gibbstown area in 1981, formerly the home of the McGlew family. They developed the farm and Percy had a fine place in which to indulge his passion for breeding thoroughbred racehorses for the flat.
He joined the Irish Turf Club in 1966 and proceeded through the ranks to become a senior judge. His colleagues esteemed him for his professionalism, his integrity and for being a gentleman to all and sundry. He retired in 1999 and continued his breeding operation. For a small breeder he had great success, producing the winner of the Yorkshire Oaks and most recently Military Attack, who was voted outstanding older horse in Hong Kong in 2013.
His children all inherited his love of horses. Joseph was a successful amateur rider and is now also a breeder on the home farm. He followed his father into the Turf Club ranks and is now senior starter.
Michael went to Coolmore Stud and then Ashford Stud in Kentucky for a short while. He worked with various trainers in England and the US and now manages Jonabel farm in Kentucky. Elizabeth moved to Kentucky in her late teens and worked at Shadwell Stud before going to University, and is now a qualified radiographer. Her husband, Clifford Barry from Kildare, manages Pin Oak Stud in Versailles, Kentucky. John was a successful amateur rider winning the amateur jockeys’ title in 1990 before turning professional. He and his family live on the Curragh where he has his business of foaling mares and breaking yearlings. Even some of the grandchildren have inherited ‘the bug’.
Percy’s other great interest was rugby. Of course when he was a young lad at Belvedere there was no television and he had his favourite perch for watching the internationals at Lansdowne Road on a high wall looking over the stands. As television coverage increased and the game developed, Percy and the family became avid viewers.
All in all , Percy enjoyed a wonderful, full life which gave him and his family much enjoyment.
He certainly was a family man devoted to his wife Elaine for over 51 years and his four children, their spouses and ten grandchildren. Although he suffered ill health in the past year, he was very grateful to the good Lord for all the blessings he enjoyed throughout his life.
He is survived by Elaine; family, Joseph, Michael, Elizabeth and John; brother, Joe; daughters-in-law, Edel, Kathryn and Mari; son-in-law, Clifford; and grandchildren, Richard, Conor, Hayley, Jack, Ava, Audrey, Emily, Grace, Brian and Laura; relatives and many friends.
The funeral took place from St John the Baptist Church, Kilberry, to Gibbstown Cemetery. Afterwards, a gathering fittingly took place at Navan Racecourse.
Kay O'Brien, Meath Hill and Santry
The death occurred in Dublin last week of Catherine (Kay) O’Brien, wife of legendary Meath footballer, Paddy ‘Hands’ O’Brien. Aged 94, Kay (nee O’Connell) lived at Santry Close, and was a native of Meath Hill.
Her Skryne-native husband won All-Ireland SFC medals with Meath in 1949 and ‘54, the same year he and Kay were married in Fairview. The couple ran a supermarket in Drumcondra, Dublin, for many years, as well as a shop in Dunshaughlin for a period.
Kay is survived by Paddy and their family, Padraic, Garry, Tony, Gabriel; daughters-in-law, Mary and Joan, grandchildren, relatives and a wide circle of friends. She was predeceased by her daughter, Mary Philomena and sister, May.
Requiem Prayers took place on Thursday at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Dublin Airport, with burial in Glasnevin Cemetery.
John Carolan, Carnanstown
John Carolan, Gravelstown, Carlanstown, Kells, who has died, was a native of Staholmog, Carlanstown. He passed away at his home, aged 80, on 24th March last. A farmer, he loved looking after his cattle.
He had a great interest in music and sport, and especially loved going to all the Meath games. He was looking forward to wearing a new signed Meath jersey that he got for his 80th birthday two weeks prior to his passing. John was a very sociable man who enjoyed his life to the full. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Anna, daughters, Maura Carolan and Philomena Kearney; sister, Mary Fitzsimons, Kells; brother-in-law, Jasper Bennett, Dunsany; six grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and extended family.
The funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr Smith in St Michael’s Church, Staholmog, with burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Gerry O’Neill, Duleek
The passing of Gerry O’Neill, Main Street, Duleek, on 17th March last, at Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, was the source of widespread sadness.
Aged 88, he was a native of Killala, Co Mayo, and moved to Duleek in 1945, to set up and run a very successful pub, supermarket, auctioneers, and funeral undertakers business with his brother, the late Jim, known as O’Neill Brothers. Gerry will be remembered as a great character, popular and well known to both young and old, and renowned for his selling ability.
He loved people and company, especially at family gatherings. In his later years, he busied himself selling furniture when he could still meet people on a daily basis.
Gerry is survived by his wife, Mai; son, Declan; daughters, Annette Walsh and Christina Brogan; sister, Margaret Gordon, Bettystown; sons-in-law, Davy and Aidan; daughter-in-law, Sharon; grandchildren, Robert, Laura, Mandy, Meghan, Shane, David, Cailean, Stephen, Darragh and Luke; eight great grandchildren; sisters-in-law; nephews and nieces.
The funeral took place from St Cianan’s Church, Duleek, to Good Shepherd Cemetery.
Annette Foley, Navan
The death occurred on 26th March last, at her home in Clusker Park, Navan, of Annette Foley, aged 51. A native of Cakestown, Kells, she worked in Navan Carpets where she met Joe Foley, and they married in 1980.
Annette was always smiling and had time for everyone she knew. She loved going out and spending time with family and friends. She loved trips away with her family, and spending time with her granddaughter, Annabelle. She never gave up on life during her long battle with cancer, and is an inspiration to all.
Annette is survived by her husband, Joe; daughter, Nicola; son, Kieran; daughter-in-law, Laura; granddaughter, Annabelle; brothers, Christy and Patrick Tobin; sisters, Rose and Theresa; brother- and sisters-in-law; uncles and aunts; relatives and friends.
The funeral took place from St Mary’s Church to St Finian’s Cemetery.
Josie Reddy, Kells
The death occurred peacefully at Millbury Nursing Home, Navan on 31st March last of Josie Reddy, Bective Street, Kells, aged 82. Born in Clover Hill, Kells, she was daughter of the late Larry and Josie Smith, and was predeceased by her husband, Timmy, in 1996. Josie was a devout Catholic and attended Mass daily until her illness prevented her from doing so. She took great comfort from her faith and devotion to Padre Pio. She was a valued neighbour, always showing great kindness and help when needed. Deceased was a keen follower of GAA at local and county level, and a regular pitch and putt player, competing throughout the county.
She will be sadly missed by her family and a large circle of friends. She is survived by her sons, Hugh, Dublin, Benny, Kells, Christopher, Navan, Timothy, Kells; daughters, Josephine, Kells, Caroline Brogan, Kells, Maureen Lynch, Mullagh; sons-in-laws; daughters-in-law; 12 grandchildren, sister, Clairse, Cavan, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
The funeral took place in St Colmcilles’s Church, Kells with burial afterwards in local cemetery.
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