Obituaries 25th May 2013
Ollie Bird, Athboy
Last week, in the death notices of the daily newspaper, two names appeared alongside each other. One was Ollie Bird, the other was Paddy Buggy - two great GAA men. Paddy Buggy was an All Ireland winning hurler with Kilkenny who rose to become president of the Gaelic Athletic Association during its centenary year. Ollie Bird never won an All Ireland, and apart from a bit of football in Kildalkey National School, wasn’t known to have being too involved in playing sport. But he was one of the Royal County’s greatest supporters, travelling the length and breadth of the country with his straw hat decorated with a green and gold headband and rosette.
Meath’s 2011 player of the year and acting captain last year, Shane McAnarney from Athboy, attending Ollie Bird’s funeral last week, had never heard of Paddy Buggy as he was only an infant during his tenure, but like generations of Meath team and followers, he knew Ollie Bird, whose first trip to see Meath play in Croke Park was on his tandem to the All-Ireland football final of 1949. When Ollie turned 80, a host of Meath legends appeared at his birthday party to surprise him.
It wasn’t unusual for any of the local Meath players to receive a phone call after the match or later in the week to discuss and debate a Sunday performance.
The Athboy supermarket founder died at Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, on Wednesday last, aged 90, having taken ill over the May bank holiday weekend. His passing occurred just three months after the death of his wife of 58 years, Phyllis McDonnell. Natives of Kildalkey, they opened a grocery store in Athboy in 1955, just a month after they were married by the groom’s brother, Fr Jimmy Bird.
Shopkeeping was in Ollie Bird’s blood - his grandfather, James had a small grocery shop in Lobinstown, where Ollie’s father, carpenter Michael, met his mother, Elizabeth Newman, who was teaching in Heronstown NS. She was from a Kildalkey farming background, and when she married Michel Bird, they set up home on the Kildalkey farm, at Carnisle, and Mrs Bird took up a post in Kildalkey School.
The second of five sons, deceased began his shopkeeping career as an apprentice in Newman’s in Athboy, in 1939.
There were five counter-hands in Newmans, who also ran a millers and bakery, employing many more. He was about a year and a half there when he saw an advertisement for an ‘improver’ in Longford town, in Gaffneys.
He got the job, and was allowed serve part time, as he wasn’t ‘completely green’. In Gaffney’s, he learned how to operate the bacon slicer. It was a large, busy establishment, with a bar, and it was here he got an opportunity to learn the bar trade.
Always on the look out for an improvement in wages and conditions, he then took up a post in Kavanaghs in Wicklow town, a bar and grocery, in 1945. Then, it was off to a bar in Balbriggan, The Dublin House, and later John Cullen’s bar at 29 Bolton Street. Cullens was a bar with a very low ceiling, and it was packed every night. Ollie Bird didn’t smoke, but, working in such an environment, inhaling smoke, he soon developed asthma. He eventually had to give up the bar trade as a result. 1947 saw him return to Meath and a position in Cadden’s Post Office and Grocery in Oldcastle. Another Athboy man, Tommy Mahon, also worked there. Ollie had a tandem bicycle and on a Monday morning on his way to Oldcastle from Carnisle picked up Tommy in Frayne.
A vacancy arose in Gorman’s in Athboy, more convenient to the two local lads, and they returned to work in the town. Ollie Bird bred greyhounds, and one of his best was The Sherpa, which won many races in Shelbourne Park. He was sold in 1954 for the top price of 550 guineas and he saved this and used it as a deposit on his new premises a year later. In 1955, after five years in Gormans and seeking a place to set up shop and home with Phyllis, he bought 17 Main Street, Athboy, from builder WJ Doyle. The premises cost €2,500 and after putting down the deposit, he persuaded the manager of Ulster Bank to give him a loan for the remainder. The shop was bought in June, Ollie and Phyllis wed in August, and after a three week honeymoon touring Ireland, the store opened in September.
Over the following half century, the Birds and their staff continued to expand and extend the business, later joined by their daughter, Anne, and son, James.
Ollie Bird became very involved in the commercial and social life of Athboy over the years. He was a founding member - and first member - of Athboy Credit Union. He was involved in Tidy Towns, the community council, and helped set up the scouts. He was Community Council Person Of The Year in 1991.
A highlight of St Patrick’s Day parades over the years has been Ollie Bird appearing in some guise or other, from the Pope to a well dressed lady, Fr Jack to Dame Edna, and he always enjoyed getting into disguise to pull off a prank on some unwitting victim.
To mark his 90th birthday last July, he published a memoir ‘The Life and Times of Ollie Bird’, which was launched by the current Athboy Community Person of the year, Liz McCormack, in Floods. It was dedicated to Athboy Tidy Towns.
In 1999, Ollie and Phyllis Bird moved to Millview, and in more recent years, Mrs Bird had resided at St Elizabeth’s Nursing Home, where Ollie visited her every day.
At his funeral Mass last week, Fr Patrick O’Connor, PP, Athboy, spoke of Ollie’s journey from Kildalkey to Athboy and how he became involved in the life of the town, taking a huge pride in Athboy. Fr O’Connor said that Ollie Bird’s personality was such that he always loved to meet and interact with people, the ideal person for running a grocery. He was one of the first down to view the new community school when it opened a couple of years ago.
He was assisted by Fr Peter Farrelly, PP, Yellow Furze, Fr Sean Henry, PP, Trim, Fr Colm Murtagh, Kildalkey, Fr David Brennan, Adm, Moynalvey; and Msgr Eamonn Marron, Kinnegad, and at the removal by Fr Oliver Devine, PP, Ballivor, Fr Andy Doyle, PP, Bohermeen and Fr Tom Gilroy, PP, Kinnegad. Ollie Bird’s famous tandem bicycle, accompanied by his grandchildren, led the hearse through the town from his home on Thursday evening to Mullen‘s Funeral Home, and to the church on Friday. The funeral took place on Saturday from St James’ Church to St James’ Cemetery, where Éanna Cronin performed a farewell tribute on his uilleann pipes. Cáthleen Mellet provided the music at the church ceremony.
Deceased is survived by his daughter, Anne Leavy; son, James; son-in-law, Seán and daughter-in-law, Lynn; grandchildren, Ellen, Jack and Peter; brother, Michael, Southampton, and Jack, Dunlever; sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and many friends.
Derek Fitzgerald,
Navan
There was widespread sadness following the death of Mr Derek Fitzgerald, Abbeylands, Navan, on 28th April last at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, aged 51.
Son of Derry and Carmel Fitzgerald, and a native of Navan, he was a loving father to Sean. He loved helping people and was gifted with his hands, with an ability to fix almost anything. Mr Fitzgerald was a fitter in Tara Mines for over 20 years. He had a keen interest in sports and was a lifelong supporter of Chelsea Football Club. He was always generous with his time for people in trouble and will be sadly missed by family and friends alike.
Deceased was cared for many times over the years of his illness in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, where the treatment he received was excellent and greatly prolonged his life. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his son Sean; partner, Rose and her son, Kieran; his brothers, Peter, Noel and Paul; sister, Josephine; nieces, nephews; relatives and friends.
The funeral took place from St Oliver’s Church, Navan, celebrated by Fr Stephen Henry, CC, to St Mary’s Cemetery. A month’s memory Mass takes place on Saturday 25th May at 7pm, in St Oliver’s Church.
Oliver McDonnell,
Riggins
The sudden death on 30th April last of Mr Oliver (Ollie) McDonnell, Riggins, Dunshaughlin, at Beaumont Hospital, caused widespread shock and sadness.
Aged 37, he was son of Pat and Margaret McDonnell, Riggins. He attended Rathfeigh National School from 1980 to 1988, and Dunshaughlin Community College until 1992. Deceased worked with Beta Electronics, Ashbourne, and then with the Call Eddie construction company for 14 years. He explored the world, including spending a year travelling and working in Australia.
Mr McDonnell was hugely involved in all sports, mainly Skryne GFC and Skryne Rangers. He played both senior and junior with Skryne GFC, and won an under 21 championship. He was also involved in fundraising for the Guide Dogs Association. Deceased was a lifelong supporter of Manchester United Football Club.
He will be deeply missed by his family. He is survived, in addition to his parents, by his wife, Niamh; brothers, Kevin, USA, and Brendan and Matthew, Riggins; sister, Deirdre McDonnell-Walsh, Brownstown, Ratoath; uncle, Bertie McDermott, Riggins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-and sisters-in-law; and a large circle of friends.
The funeral took place from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rathfeigh, to the adjoining cemetery.
James Maher,
Mullagh
The death of Mr James (Jimmy) Maher snr, Cormeen Lower, Mullagh, Kells, on 5th May last, was the source of widespread regret. Aged 72, he passed away at Cavan General Hospital.
Deceased was son of the late Michael and Elizabeth Maher and was a native of Tipperary. He worked as a bread sales man for Spicers from 1969 until his retirement in 2006.
Mr Maher was an all-round sports follower and among his favourites were soccer, Gaelic football and hurling, darts, and games of cards and dominoes. He was a passionate follower of Manchester United Football Club and visited Old Trafford with his family for his retirement in 2006. He was also a supporter of his native Tipperary and travelled to Thurles several times a year.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Josephine; sons, Michael, Jimmy and John; daughters, Ann, Josephine, Mary, Elizabeth; daughters-in-law, Catherine, Roisin and Karen; sons-in-law, Damien Collins and Kenneth Bruen; grandchildren, Peter, Stephen and Ciara Collins; Jack and Allie Maher; Shauna, Sarah, Craig, Jake, Conor and Clodagh Maher; relatives and friends.
The funeral took place from St Mary’s Church, Newcastle, to Moynalty Cemetery.
John Carberry,
Garristown
John Carberry of Garristown who died on 13th April last was a member of the well known hunting and horseracing family.
He died peacefully after a short illness, aged 76. An agricultural contractor, he hunted with the Fingal Harrier and Ward Union Hunts, and was master of the Fingal Harriers for a long period.
Mr Carberry was a long time sufferer of multiple sclerosis, but never let the illness get the better of him, and he courageously continued to hunt for many years. After he finished hunting, he followed it in his specially adapted car. He was a great friend of his fellow hunt enthusiasts, Standish Collen and Charles Haughey, and often rode out on Portmarnock Beach with them. He was delighted to see the success of his brother, Tommy, and family in horseracing.
Husband of the late Maureen, he is survived by his daughter, Lynn; son-in-law, Mark; grandchildren, Fionn and Ava; brother Tommy, Ratoath; sisters Anna Russell, Oldtown, and Bess O’Connor, Ashbourne; sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and many friends. The funeral took place from St Mary’s Church, Ardcath, to Garristown Cemetery.
Pat Devine, Delvin
There was sadness and shock in Delvin and surrounding areas on Friday 10th May following the sudden death at his residence of Mr Pat Devine, father of Kildalkey-Ballivor parish priest, Fr Oliver Devine.
Mr Devine worked as a butcher in St Loman’s Hospital in Mullingar for many years and then ran a shop in Delvin, where Michael Leonard now operates. Deceased was a member of a highly respected family. His remains were removed to the Church of the Assumption, Delvin on Sunday evening, and his funeral was on Monday of last week.
Predeceased by his first wife, Marcella, Pat is survived by his wife, Mary, sons, Fr Oliver, Sean and Feichin, daughters, Aine, Mary and Una; brother, Fr Oliver J; sisters, Annie and Theresa, grandchildren, in-laws, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Brian Daly,
Oldcastle
Much sadness was aroused by the death of Mr Brian (Brianie) Daly, Church Street, Oldcastle, at the age of 61, at his residence on 29th April last.
A native of Crossdrum, Oldcastle, he was very involvd in Ballinacree GAA, and played for St Bridget’s football team in the 1970s and ‘80s. Deceased worked for FAS for the past number of years, which he enjoyed. He is survived by his wife, Theresa; sisters, Nancy and MB; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews and mother -in-law, Lilly Boylan.
The funeral took place from St Oliver’s Church, Oldcastle, to Ballinacree Cemetery.
Breda Cogan,
Slane
The regretted passing of Mrs Breda Cogan, Rochestown House, Slane, occurred on 28th April last, at Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, following a short illness.
A member of the Lynch family of Rathdrina, Beauparc, she was predeceased by her parents, Julia and James, and sister, Julie Cogan.
She is survived by her husband, Sean; sons, Shane and James; daughter, Paula; daughter-in-law, Deirdre; son-in-law, Andrew; grandchildren, Charlie, Zara and Méabh; brothers, Jim, Sean and Gerry; brothers- and sisters-in-law; nephews; nieces and a large circle of relatives and friends. The funeral took place in the Church of St Louis and St Mary, Rathkenny, on 1st May with burial in the adjoining cemetery.
A month’s memory mass will take place in the Church of St Louis and St Mary, Rathkenny on Sunday 26th May at 11.30am.