Spectre of terrorism casts dark shadow over county meath

On Friday last, the lunchtime news bulletins were carrying reports of a terror attack on a beach in Tunisia. Reports that seven people had died soon became 27, and more. Earlier, there had been breaking news of an attack by Islamic militants on a chemical factory near Grenoble in France. There would be a third attack, when a suicide bomber targeted a Shia mosque in Kuwait.

For many in this country, these incidents would pass by as another headline, another foreign news story, something that was happening far away, with no great ramifications for people’s lives here. Suddenly, that was no longer the case. Particularly in the neighbouring villages and parishes of Kilmessan, Robinstown and Dunderry, and the nearby towns of Navan and Trim.

The shocking news began filtering through that Lorna Carty, a member of a well-known Meath family, had died in the gun attack on the beach at the Tunisian resort, Sousse. Isil, the Islamic fundamentalists had landed on the doorsteps of Kilmessan, where Lorna grew up, and in Retaine, Robinstown, where she had settled with husband Declan to bring up their family.

A day which began with a last walk on the beach before getting a flight home was to end with the 53 year-old mother of two featuring on the international news headlines, and a county and country shocked, horrored and numbed by the incomprehensible turn of events.

Thoughts immediately turned to her family, her husband, Declan, stranded in Tunisia in the midst of the trauma; son, Simon, who has donned the green and gold of Meath and was looking forward to Croke Park on Sunday; daughter, Hazel, on holiday in Turkey after finishing her Leaving Certificate; and her parents, Amy and Johnny Harlin in Kilmessan, and their family, Jim, Ronan, Brian and Ruth.

For the Harlins and Cartys are two families that have been central to community, sporting, farming and business life across these parishes for generations. The Harlins have farmed at Asigh, close to Bellinter, for centuries. Amy Harlin is a member of another old Kilmessan family, the Curtises, and Lorna’s cousins and extended family circle include the Donnellys, the Dennehys, and many other names readily associated with Kilmessan and its sporting tradition. Her Harlin relatives include former ICA national president, Kitty Harlin, wife of Johnny’s late brother, Michael, and her family, while her brother Jim was recently chairman of Kilmessan Hurling Club.

Tommy Brennan, who succeeded Jim as chairman of Kilmessan Hurling Club, extended the sympathies of the club, and the wider community, to the Harlin and Carty families at this “dreadfully tragic time.”

“Jim is currently club treasurer, and his son, Jake plays hurling with Kilmessan and football with Dunsany,” Mr Brennan added. “And Ronan is also involved in Dunsany GFC- the Harlins have been a huge part of the community for generations.”

He recalled that Johnny Harlin and his late brothers, Michael and Tommy, religiously attended Kilmessan hurling games.

It’s not the first time these families have lost loved ones in tragic circumstances or at young ages –  Padraig Curtis lost his life in a road traffic collision in 2000; Rosanna Murphy, daughter of Kitty and Michael, died suddenly in 1999. Both were first cousins of Lorna, both also gone before their times.

The Cartys are a well-known farming and business family in Robinstown, as anyone who ever bought a suit in Keogan and Carty in Navan, or a cake from the Miss Cartys' Annaville's Bakery on Brews Hill, will remember.

Lorna was a dedicated and caring person, both in her career as a practice nurse, and in the community, where she was involved in so much voluntary work, more recently with Dunderry GAA and Ladies' Circle in her adopted parish. But she was also a loving wife, mother, and daughter, and was as often to be found at home in Asigh ensuring that everything was running smoothly at the farmhouse, as she was at home in Retaine where Declan is dairy farming, looking after her own family.

Expressing sympathy, the Meath West TD, and Junior Minister, Damien English, said: 'For Lorna Carty, family and community were paramount. Her family, and their local community, deserve our thoughts and prayers at this truly awful time.'