Recent Deaths 171107

MR J LAWLESS, DUNSHAUGHLIN

DUNSHAUGHLIN came to a standstill last week for one of its biggest farewells of recent times with the removal and funeral Mass of Mr James (Jimmy) Lawless, of the public house and hardware store on the main street of the village. Mr Lawless, who was aged 90, passed away peacefully last Sunday week, and his funeral took place on Wednesday.

A native of Bogganstown, Drumree, he was one of a family of nine. Mr Lawless was

one of the very early students of the Agriculture College in  Warrenstown, where his classmates included the captain of the 1939 Meath senior football team, Mattie Gilsenan. He then served his time in business in large general merchants Gibneys of Oldcastle, and later Shaws of Mullingar. When his father died, he returned to Drumree to the family farm, and became regarded as an outstanding judge of livestock, travelling to fairs and marts across the country on a regular basis.

In September 1955, a month before his marriage to Laurie Young of

Celbridge, he bought the Dublin House Bar in Dunshaughlin, formerly the Dublin House Hotel owned by the McMahon family. It was one of the oldest businesses in the then small village, and around the early 1900s, a store on the premises was the meeting place of the Dunshaughlin Fife and Drum band. The Lawlesses ran the pub and general grocery store as well as a hardware business, which they concentrated more on as time went on, eventually closing the grocery and expanding the bar and lounge and building a new hardware store in the early 1970s, aided by their growing family. Mr Lawless continued to farm and stocked a number of

holdings in Culmullen, as well as in Dunshaughlin.

He was an unfailing supporter of Meath football, and the Dublin House was always a stopping off point for many travelling to Croke Park from north Meath and further afield over the last 50 years. It featured on RTE coverage of after-match celebrations on numerous occasions.

Mr Lawless enjoyed nothing better than good company and a game of cards and the pub regularly played host to games of 25s, while he also enjoyed poker and solo. In his latter years, he was a familiar site walking down the street of Dunshaughlin with his trusted dog to get the morning paper. Two years ago, he and Laurie marked their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a celebration party.

Deceased is survived by his wife, Laurie; family, Seamus, Rath Hill,

Dunshaughlin, Michael, Ratoath, Marie Therese Long, Dunshaughlin,

Declan, Crosskeys, Albert, England, Fergus, Culmullen, Noreen,

Dunshaughlin; daughters-in-law; 12 grandchildren; sister, Frances,

Bogganstown; brother, John, Dowdstown, Maynooth; relatives and many

friends and loyal customers.

Mr Lawless'removal took place from his residence on Main Street, Dunshaughlin, to the Church of Ss Patrick and  Sechnall, Dunshaughlin, on Tuesday evening

of last week, The funeral Mass was celebrated by Rev Fr Kevin Fleming,

CC, Dunshaughlin, and Very Rev Fr Phil Gaffey, PP, Curraha, followed by

burial in Culmullen Cemetery, Drumree. Tenor Paul Byrom performed at the ceremony.

MRS N SMYTH, NAVAN

THE occurred peacefully at Leopardstown Park Hospital, Dublin, on the 11th October last, of Mrs Anne (Nancy) Smyth, St Mary's Park, Navan.

Mrs Smyth was a native of Glasallen, Collon, and a member of the Coogan family. She was predeceased in 2002 by her husband, Felix. Deceased will be remembered warmly as a great homemaker, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She is survived by her sons, Patrick, Dublin; Andrew, Navan; Phelim, Navan; Kevin, Ashbourne, and Aidan, Bohermeen; daughters, Anne Ennis, Navan; Mary Smyth, Ashbourne, and Una McCabe, Beauparc; sisters, Mona and Kitty; sister-in-law, Kitty; daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A month's memory Mass will be celebrated in St Oliver's Church, Blackcastle, Navan, this coming Saturday, 17th November, at 10.30am.

MR P GAYNOR, MOYNALTY

THERE was great sadness around Moynalty and district with the news of the passing at his Billywood home in mid-October of Mr Paddy Gaynor (87).

The Moynalty native was president of the village GAA club for which he had played football late into his 30s. His strong musical talent was shown in the numerous instruments he mastered and he was also vocalist with his band The Royal into his 40s. His tremendous enthusiasm for local history led him to become a founder member of Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival committee and no one was prouder at its opening of the museum a few short years ago. That commitment was movingly outlined at his Funeral Mass by Very Rev Fr Joe McEvoy, PP. Deceased is survived by his wife, Maureen; daughters, Mary and Ann, sons Peter, Patrick, Gerard and Ronan, in-laws Jennifer, Noelle and Sinead, Aidan and Jimmy, grandchildren Shane, Declan, Rachel, Cillian and Avril, relatives and friends.

His remains were removed from St Mary's Church following the Mass and interred in the village cemetery.