Obituaries 03-03-2012

The death occurred last week of Mr Sean Carrigy (78), of Cloran, Athboy, well known across the county and beyond for his involvement in the GAA, greyhound racing, farming and politics. He was aged 78. Last September, he performed the ceremonial throw-in of the sliothar at the county senior hurling final between Kildalkey and Navan O'Mahonys. The Carrigy family of Cloran has a long tradition in Gaelic games in Athboy and deceased played his part in maintaining that tradition. Like his father, Tommy senior, Mr Carrigy served the club has both player and chairman. His father won senior hurling championship medals with Athboy in the late 1920s, and an all Ireland junior hurling championship with Meath in 1927 and was elected chairman in the 1950s. Sean Carrigy played both hurling and football in the 1950s and '60s. In 1955, Athboy won the Junior A and Junior B hurling championships and in 1957, the Junior A football championship, and deceased was a member of all three panels. His brothers, Tommy and Pat were on senior hurling winning team in the 1960s and '70s. When his playing days ended in the 1960s, he got involved at committee level and served as chairman and vice chairman at various periods in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. During this time, he also served as selector and mentor to numerous adult and underage Athboy teams. He was a selector for Clann na Gael's most recent success, the Junior A football championship of 2007, where his nephew Thomas Carrigy was in the half back line. Mr Carrigy represented Athboy and Clann na Gael for three decades at county board level, hardly ever missing a meeting. On match days in Athboy, he was always one of the first men to be seen helping out at the GAA grounds. He was also active in fundraising and development, and a familiar sight selling club lottery tickets in the town on a Saturday night. In 2003, he presented the Carrigy Cup to the County Board in memory of his late father, to be played for in the under-21 hurling championship. At the time of his passing, he was vice-chairman of the club and a selector with the intermediate team. Another sport he was greatly involved in was greyhound racing, and he owned numerous dogs, breeding his own with the Cloran pre-fix. One successful dog he was involved with was Athboy Lass, owned in partnership with Georgina Horan of Kilmessan. Deceased was a well-known figure at the greyhound tracks in Longford, Mullingar and Newbridge. Mr Carrigy was farming at Cloran, Athboy, close to the Westmeath border and part of Clonmellon parish. It was a mixed dairy, beef and sheep farm and deceased was chairman of the local IFA branch in the Clonmellon-Killallon area. He was also active in Fine Gael politics, helping out with canvassing for any council or Dail candidates in the area. He continued to be active in his sporting and farming activities despite receiving treatment for illness over the past year. Predeceased by his brother, Tommy, he is survived by his wife, Kathleen; sister, Mary; brothers Michael, Joe and Pat; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends. The removal took place from Mullen's Funeral Home, Athboy, to Ss Peter and Paul's Church, Clonmellon, with burial in Clonmellon cemetery. ____________________________________________________________ Gertie Duffy, Bohermeen The Duffy family of the renowned circus was joined by neighbours and entertainment colleagues in Bohermeen yesterday (Tuesday) to bid farewell to Mrs Gertie Duffy, matriarch of the circus family, who died suddenly last week. Mrs Duffy (74), died peacefully at home in the circus which is currently visiting Mullingar, in the early hours of Thursday last. Also known as as 'Granny Duffy', she was well known to circus goers throughout the country as the candyfloss and popcorn shop boss at the circus for the last 20 years. When not travelling around the country, the circus is based at Anfield Farm, Bohermeen for the winter, and travels nationwide from February to November. It has set up in Mullingar after its recent staging in Navan, and Mrs Duffy died while the circus was visiting the Westmeath town. Receiving her remains into St Ultan's Church, Bohermeen on Monday night, Fr Andy Doyle, PP, described a woman who brought joy and fun to generations after she married circus master Tom Duffy, bringing about a huge change in her life. She was the daughter of Bessie Rowe, from Collinstown, Co Westmeath, and her father emigrated to England, leaving her mother to raise two girls. Her mother set up the Seafort School of Dancing in Dublin, which produced many famous dancers, and the young Gertie (nee Sinnott) was a dancer in the old Theatre Royal. On the cabaret circuit, she used the stage name Ruth Marlow, and had a successful career touring the Irish and British cabaret circuit through the 1960s, '70s and '80s. She was renowned for her rendition of the song 'Sunshine of Your Smile'. Marriage to Tom Duffy brought a different scene. He is the sixth generation carrying on the tradition started by Dublin shoemaker, Patrick James Duffy, in the nineteenth century when he left his workshop and went to England to join a circus. He ended up becoming a famous acrobat and father of the founder of Duffy's Circus, one of the oldest circuses in Ireland, and indeed, in the world. These days, David Duffy and his wife, Stephanie, are the next generation, and their sons Tom and Jamie are also part of the show, which has a forty week-season, visiting 80 different towns and cities, generally staying from three days to a week in each place. Mrs Duffy is survived by her husband, Tom; son, David; daughter-in-law, Stephanie; grandsons Tom and Jamie; sister Mona; family circle and many friends. Members of St Cuthbert's juvenile GAA club provided a guard of honour at the removal on Monday evening when the remains arrived from Gilsenan's Funeral Home, Mullingar. The funeral took place from St Ultan's Church, Bohermeen, to the adjoining cemetery. ____________________________________________________________ Al Moroney, Ashbourne Ashbourne Rugby Club has expressed condolences with the family of the late Mr Al Moroney, Baltrasna, Ashbourne, who died on 8th February last, and who played a significant part in setting up the club. Mr Moroney was a member of Ashbourne RFC, along with UCD and Bective. He was a former Irish International prop forward having played against Wales in 1964, with his other two caps coming against Australia and England in 1967. As well as getting recognition as a coach with UCD and Bective, he coached at Ashbourne also and was a member of some notable Ashbourne teams, including the successful O'Connell Cup winning team. He played an important role in the development of the club and he was an inspiration to all who played with him and those coached by him, the club says. His son, Michael, also played with the Ashbourne club for many years. In 1974, when the club was founded, the first match played was for the McDowell Shield with Suttonians, in Sutton, in which Ashbourne were beaten. The next match against Guinness the following Saturday preceded the official opening of the Ashbourne grounds the next day. The match was an Ashbourne Selection versus an Al Moroney International Selection. Joining Al Moroney were such notables as Moss Keane, Kevin Flynn, Vinny Becker, Tony Ensor, Mick Doyle, Robbie McGrath and Terry Kingston. Ashbourne played in amber and black, the official club colours, in a set of jerseys sponsored by Charles J Haughey. According to the club website, Joe Kennedy reported that Haughey inquired if the jerseys were gold lined, when presented with the invoice. Deceased is survived by his wife, Marjorie; family, Joanne, Shelley, Emma, Marjorie, Michael and Kizzy; brother, Michael; sister, Olive; sons-in-law, Chris, Conor, Will, Andrew and John; daughter-in-law, Michelle; grandchildren, Julianna, Andrew and Shirley Hamilton; Gavin and Evanna Hoey; Daniel, Zoe and Eva Magner; Ben, Isobel and Tom Griffith; Alex, Conor and Mikey Moroney; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St Canice's Church, Finglas Village, where Mr Moroney had a medical practice, to Ratoath Cemetery. ____________________________________________________________ John McDonnell, Ashbourne The death occurred on 9th February last of Mr John (Jack) McDonnell, Milltown Estate, Ashbourne, at the age of 85, causing widespread sadness. A native of Ashbourne, he was son of the late William and Rosaleen McDonnell. Deceased was a lover of outdoor pursuits, particularly hunting, mainly rabbits, and enjoyed racing and horses. He also was involved with Donaghmore GAA club as a member, and helped with the 1979 minor championship winning team. He was predeceased in June 1999 by his wife, Alice; and is survived by his family, Alice, William, Jennifer, Margaret, John, Trevor; grandchildren; great grandchildren; neighbours and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ashbourne, to the adjoining cemetery. ____________________________________________________________ Mary Priest, Kildalkey There was widespread regret following the death of Mrs Mary Priest, Baskinagh, Athboy, at the age of 80, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. A native of Kildalkey, she was a member of the Gallagher family and was predeceased by her husband, Jim Priest, in 2004. Deceased was a housewife and was devoted to her garden. She also had many cures, of the sprain, warts and a thorn, and people came to her from all over Ireland for these cures. She will be missed by her family and friends. Mrs Priest is survived by her brother, Ted Gallagher, Ballinadrimna, Athboy; sisters-in-law, Kathleen Gallagher, Ballinadrimna; Kathleen Bell, Kildare, and Mai Priest, Dublin; nieces; nephews; relatives; friends and neighbours. The removal took place from Mullen's Funeral Home, Athboy, to St Dympna's Church, Kildalkey. The funeral took place to St Dympna's Cemetery on Monday 13th February. ____________________________________________________________ Kevin Lynch, Trim The death of Mr Kevin Lynch, Eldergrove, Trim, on 30th October last, was the source of considerable sadness. Aged 90, he was a native of Kells. Deceased loved horse racing, and attended race meetings at racecourses across Ireland and England, where he spent a lot of his younger life. In later years, he enjoyed following racing on television. Mr Lynch is survived by his wife, Betty (nee Doyle, Balsoon, Bective); daughters, Mary and Gillian, Eldergrove; sons-in-law, Jim and Graham; grandchildren, Cara, Camilla, Patrick and Hugh; sisters, Alacoque and Carmel; brothers, Tom and Richard; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of Our Lady's Nativity, Kilmessan, to the adjoining cemetery, on 3rd November last. ____________________________________________________________ Essie McGuinness, Drogheda Mrs Essie McGuinness, Glenmore Lodge, Sheephouse, Drogheda, who died on 5th February last, was in her 97th year and a native of Borris, Co Carlow. She was born in 1915 in Ballybrack, Borris, and her first place of employment was in an estate in Swords, Co Dublin, working as a dairymaid where the Emmaus Retreat and Conference Centre is now based. She moved back to the Bruen Estate, Oakpark, Carlow (now the Teagasc Research Centre), where she met and married Patrick McGuinness, who was also employed by the estate, as a gamekeeper. He was a native of Rossmore Park, Monaghan. In 1946, they moved to the Shirley Estate in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, and remained there until 1962 when they moved on to Dowth Hall, Drogheda, and finally settled in the Coddington Estate, Oldbridge, Drogheda, in 1965. Deceased was a woman of deep faith who loved the Church and attended Mass daily into her nineties. She had a great devotion to Our Lady and in her latter years, spent a week in Knock every summer. She loved her weekly visits to the Ozanam Day Care Centre, Mornington, and made great friends there. Mrs McGuinness was devoted to her family and loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Patrick, in July 1992, and is survived by her famiuly, Betty Grimes, Dowth, Paddy, Snugboro, Casstlebar, Oliver, Monktown, Walterstown, Navan; brother, Lazerine Breen, Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny; 17 grandchildren; 25 great granchildren; sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter, Mary, in England in 1994. The funeral took place from St Mary's Church, Donore, to the adjoining cemetery, celebrated by Fr Michael Meade, PP, Donore, assisted by Fr John Brogan, PP, Kilskyre, and Fr Pat Farragher, Castlebar. ____________________________________________________________ Mick Wimsey, Trim There was widespread shock and sadness following the death on 30th January last of Mr Mick Wimsey (55), of Trim. A native of Ardsallagh, Navan, he was son of the late Tom and Deirdre Wimsey. Deceased was a skilled mechanic and a truck driver, who had great time for people, and will be remembered for always having a great big smile on his face. He adored his children and grandchildren, sisters, brother, and entire family, and will be sadly missed by all. He is survived by his daughters, Karen, Jenny, and Sandy; son, Michael; their mother, Ann; son-in-law, Hamner; grandchildren, Alison, Conor, Ben, Tom, Dylan and Alexa; sisters, Maureen, Brenda, and Geraldine; brother, Tony; brother-in-law; Johnny; sister-in-law, Theresa; his partner, Nuala and her family; relatives and a wide circle of friends. The funeral took place from St Patrick's Church, Trim, to St Mary's Cemetery, Navan, where he was laid to rest alongside his parents and his late brother, Adrian. A month's memory Mass takes place on Saturday evening next, 3rd March, at 7.30pm, in the Church of the Assumption, Dunderry.