Obituaries 11-08-2012

Josephine Coleman, Athboy There was widespread sadness following the peaceful death of Mrs Josephine (Joan) Coleman (nee Crawford), of Castletown, Athboy, on 20th July last. Mrs Coleman passed away in St Elizabeth's Nursing Home, Athboy after a long battle with Motor Neuron Disease. A native of Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, deceased came to the Athboy area as a national school teacher in the mid-1950s and taught until her retirement in 1994. She taught in Frayne, Girley, Rathmore and Athboy national schools during her career, spending many of those years teaching senior infants, first and second classes. She was an instantly recognisable figure in her grey Austin Mini and is fondly remembered by pupils for giving them lifts to school in it. After her retirement she became a prominent member of Athboy Active Retirement Club both as an active participant in all activities and as a committee member. Mrs Coleman also pursued other interests, including knitting, painting and crosswords. She mastered the computer too during her retirement and was a regular walker until the MND took her mobility. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Michael, and is survived by her family, Teresa, Jimmy, Eileen and Valerie; grandchildren, Cian, Aoife, Dara, Molly, Sinead and Jamie; sister, Mary; sons-in-law, Shane and Ed; daughter-in-law, Dympna, extended family and friends. The funeral took place in St James' Church, Athboy, followed by burial in St James' Cemetery in Athboy. The month's mind Mass will take place on Sunday 19th August at 11.30am in St James' Church. ____________________________________________ Pat McElroy, Blanchardstown The death occurred recently of Mr Pat McElroy, a prominent member of Summerhill's senior football championship winning teams of the 1970s. Mr McElroy died peacefully at home in Blanchardstown on 26th June last. Originally from Coachford in County Cork, he had initially moved to Dublin and competed in Dublin county championship with Post Office Engineers. When he came to live in the area, he threw in his lot with Summerhill at the end of the 1973 season. His first game was a challenge match in Mullingar early in 1974. Mr McElroy's arrival coincided with Summerhill's rise to prominence in the senior ranks and he was an integral part of that. He played a prominent part in the retention of the Feis Cup early in the season and was to the fore in the final victory over Seneschalstown. But more and better was to come. Summerhill won their first senior championship that year and Pat McElroy was ever present in the half forward line. When things looked beyond redemption in a crucial match against Ballivor, he popped up with a superbly taken goal to prompt a marvellous recovery. Later in the year, he scored two of the nine points in the final victory over Bohermeen. As well as Feis Cup and championship, deceased also was part of the Martry and Na Fianna (Dublin) tournament winning teams that year. Summerhill's success continued into 1975 and he continued to play a leading role. Interchanging between right half forward and the corner he was a constant threat to opposing defences. He played at Number 13 in the 1975 final against Navan O'Mahonys, notching two points in that epic decider. Misfortune befell him at the end of that year when he suffered a bad break to his leg and despite efforts to get back on track the injury curtailed his participation at the highest level. Affectionately known as 'Sammy' because of his surname coinciding with a famous soccer player of the era, Mr McElroy was enormously popular with and respected by his playing colleagues. One suspects it was respect and fear in equal quantities by his opponents. He performed at a high level in all his matches, was an extremely skilful player and never resorted to anything but the highest standards of sportsmanship. Soon after, deceased relocated to the Blanchardstown area of Dublin. He was involved at underage level with St Brigid's and managed junior championship team Eireann go Brath. He was an uncle of current Cork senior football player, Daniel Goulding. He is survived by his wife, Myra; family, Marie-Louise, George, Ellen, Joseph, Paul, Patrick, Thomas and Katie; ten grandchildren; mother, Muddy; brothers; sisters; sons-in-law; daughters-in-law; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. The funeral took place from St Brigid's Church, Blanchardstown, to Clonsilla Churchyard. Members of Summerhill GFC formed a guard of honour at his removal. ____________________________________________ Thomas Cahill, Navan and Dundalk Mr THOMAS 'Tuckser' Cahill, Castletown Road, Dundalk who died peacefully on 19th May last was one of Dundalk's best known and popular characters who was actively involved in a wide variety of business, sporting and entertainment life in the town for over 60 years. Few in the town knew Thomas Cahill by no other name but 'Tuckser' and even the man himself did not respond when he was called by his Christian name. The origin of the name 'Tuckser' is not certain but family believe that it can be found in that of Tommy Tucker, the big band leader who dominated the scene in Britain in the 1930s and 1940s. Mr Cahill was a native of Navan, one of eight children of Michael and Mary Cahill, of Emmet Terrace, born in 1929. After leaving school he served his apprenticeship as a cabinet maker, and moved to Dundalk when he was 20 to work with his brother, Johnny. He soon established his own furniture and kitchen business in a variety of premises before moving to Chapel Street and over the 50 years he was in business, he fitted countless homes with kitchens and a variety of built-in furniture, always supplying quality workmanship. Deceased's sporting ability was evident from an early age in his native Navan. He was more than accomplished at any sport in which he participated and when he moved to Dundalk he quickly became involved in athletics, gaining notable recognition as a hurdler. His talents were in demand from many local clubs and he soon found his way to Oriel Park where he played with a Dundalk Youth team that reached the semi-finals of the FAI and Leinster Cups, a considerable achievement in those days. That team contained three players, Tommy McCabe, Peter McParland and Tommy Traynor who gained international recognition with New Zealand, Northern Ireland, and the Republic. Mr Cahill was the free scoring centre-forward in the team and graduated to the Dundalk first team where he played for a few seasons. Later he played junior football with his beloved St Patrick's AFC helping them to a memorable achievement when they won the FAI Junior Cup. In later years, snooker and badminton where other sports in which he won recognition. Many who frequented the showband scene at its peak in the 1960s will have fond memories of Mr Cahill for he was the leader of the Woodpeckers Showband. Having learned the trumpet at an early age in his native Navan, he formed his own band that performed mostly in the Dundalk area. In late 1959, deceased and three other colleagues working in the furniture trade, his nephews, Michael McGoona and Brendan Farrelly, together with Gerry Duffy came together The Woodpeckers, so called as the four were wood workers. They rehearsed in premises that deceased rented for his furniture business in Roden Place and performed at their first dance on Christmas night, 1959 in the City Hall in Armagh. Over the next five or six years that he performed with the band they gained a cherished reputation, especially in the southern counties of Ireland and were voted number three behind the Royal Showband and the Capitol by readers of the Limerick Leader. It was a time when there were upwards of 600 showbands performing on the circuit, and the Woodpeckers with Mr Cahill supplying the banter for his audience were much in demand, performing five, six, often seven nights a week, with the band members often arriving back in Dundalk at eight in the morning and going straight into work. His other passion in life was greyhound racing, and on Friday evenings after work, his workshop was the gathering place for the 'doggy men'. He bought his first greyhounds from a farmer in Newcastlewest and the dogs were delivered to the dancehall after the Woodpeckers had performed. The two greyhounds accompanied the band back to Dundalk and one of those dogs 'Linky Lane' did well. Other notable performers for their owner-trainer were 'Hopeful Roner' and 'Keen Wife' He was a former chairman of the Dundalk and Dowdallshill Coursing Club, and guided the club through difficult times. Mr Cahill is survived by his wife of 54 years, Phyllis (neé Bellew); sister, Tessie Clarke, Navan; nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his brothers, Johnny and Mickey, and sisters, Kathleen, Nellie, Cissie, and Mary. The funeral took place from St Nicholas' Church to St Patrick's cemetery, celebrated by Fr G Campbell, CC.