Obituaries 8th June 2013
Chris Jones, Killeen
Chris Jones, Killeen Glebe, Dunshaughlin, who died on Saturday last, was one of Ireland’s leading businessmen for over half a century. He died peacefully at his family’s Ballsbridge apartment on Saturday last, two days after his 89th birthday.
Deceased, with his brothers, founded the Jones Group, which at the time of its flotation in 1973, broke all records for the amount raised by public issue in Ireland, oversubscribed 38.5 times and raising £1.3 million. There were 98 million applications, totalling £50 million in value.
It was an enormous achievement for a man who had arrived in Dublin from his native Bandon, Co Cork, to serve an apprenticeship with run-down Rathmines plumbing company, HA O’Neil, in 1940.
Chris Jones was the youngest of a family of nine born to Timothy and Molly Jones. The family background was in stonemasonry, but Timothy Jones was a British Navy seaman and his wife from a Sligo business family. Jones senior later became a manager with Murphy’s Brewery, and with a huge interest in workers’ rights, was elected to Bandon Town Commissioners and Cork County Council, becoming chairman of the council.
The young Chris Jones’ early career plans were to farm, but his brother-in-law, Herbert Dennis, who was a construction manager with Sisk in Dublin, organised the apprenticeship in Rathmines. Mr Jones’s first major job with HA O’Neil was at the building of Dublin Airport, at Collinstown. This contract lasted 18 months, with Mr Jones cycling from his digs in Drimnagh to Collinstown every day during one of the coldest winters on record.
A foreman recognised his entrepreneurial ability, and recommended to the owner of the company, which was not being run very successfully at the time, that Chris Jones be appointed manager. He was, and through his contacts with Sisk, was able to secure major housing development contracts, and expand the work of the company. Dr Noel Browne’s programme to rid the country of tuberculosis and build new hospitals saw the company awarded contracts on those.
Mr Jones moved the company from its dilapidated premises at Portobello Bridge to the former Smurfit premises on Lower Rathmines Road. He branched from plumbing into the heating business. Eight years after joining HA O’Neil as an apprentice, Chris Jones acquired the majority holding and became managing director, at the age of 25, with the support of Jack Sisk. He brought his brother, Gerry, on board to look after the administration of the company when he was out earning contacts.
Work continued on the hospitals and sanitoria, and a major contract on a refuelling installation at Shannon Airport for Esso. Through Esso, the Joneses got involved in shipping from oil refineries along the south coast, setting up their own shipping company.
The expansion of the business was continued through the 1960s by concentrating on large scale plumbing and heating contracts, particularly industrial and institutional contracts.
A major part of O’Neil’s business was the provision of mechanical engineering services.
Accountant Derry Hussey, who had joined the company in 1965, recognised that the way forward for HA O’Neil and its associated companies was a stock exchange flotation. The business moved to a new premises at Beechill in Clonskeagh, the former home of the Chivers jam factory, and in April 1973, the flotation was announced.
The announcement was widely covered in the business magazines and newspapers, both in Ireland and Britain. It was the cover story in Business and Finance in April 1973.
Chris Jones was named ‘Man of the Week’ in the same publication. Mr Jones and his brothers, Gerry and John, were the flavour of the month in the national media.
The company remained on the stock exchange until 1997, but Mr Jones had already orchestrated a management buy-out the engineering arm of the firm in 1993, which he continued to run as Jones Engineering up to his passing.
Mr Jones was a member of the Construction Industry Federation, becoming president in 1985; and received numerous engineering and management awards over the years. He was on the board of Rehab and sponsored Christopher Nolan’s first book, ‘Dam-Burst of Dreams’.
In September 1954, Mr Jones married Jill Purcell from Harold’s Cross, and the family lived in Terenure and later, Templeogue. He fulfilled his early ambition by buying a farm at Ballycullen, where he established a pedigree Friesian herd. With the spread of urbanisation, it became impossible to farm at Ballycullen, and it was developed for housing. In 1977, he bought Killeen Glebe, a former rectory attached to Killeen Castle in Dunsany, from JA Mullins, and the family moved here. A beef enterprise was established at Killeen and Berrillstown, and the dairy business moved to a farm at Kinnegad. The manager was Oliver Brooks, later to become a member of Meath County Council.
The Jones also were involved in racehorses, many trained with Arthur Moore, who is married to Chris Jones’ niece, Mary. An early success in the 1970s was Temper, in training with Paddy Sleator in Wicklow, where Mary’s brother, Tim, was stable jockey. Arthur Moore trained over 60 winners for Chris Jones, the most famous being Klairon Davis, which won 20 races between 1993 and 2001, including the Arkle Chase and the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, in 1995 and 1996 respectively.
Other Cheltenham successe were with Tiger Cry and What A Charm.
Mr Jones continued to be active in his business and racing interests up until recent months, residing at Killeen at weekends and in Dublin to be near his office and family during the week. He was a very generous benefactor to fundraising events taking place in Dunsany parish, school or GAA club. In recent months, he had completed work on recording a memoir of his life and work for family posterity.
Deceased, who was the last surviving member of his family, was predeceased by his wife, Jill, in July 2008. He is survived by family, Mary Paula, Maeve, Christine, Clare and Christopher; sons-in-law, Peter, Rob, and Peter, daughter-in-law, Afra; 12 grandchildren; great granddaughter; sisters-in-law; brother-in-law; nieces; nephews; and many friends.
The funeral took place on Tuesday from the Church of St Paul of the Cross, Mount Argus, Dublin, to Mount Jerome Crematorium.
Noel Curran, Dunshaughlin and Dublin
The death has occurred in Dublin after a long battle with illness, of Noel Curran, who was full forward on Meath’s All Ireland winning team of 1967. He played with Dunshaughlin, and was the club’s first player to win an All Ireland senior football medal. His son, Paul, carried on the tradition, winning an All-Ireland SFC with Dublin in 1995, playing with the Thomas Davis club.
In the 2011 Meath senior football final between Summerhill and Dunshaughlin, the guests of honour were those two club’s representatives on the 1967 team, Noel Curran and Mattie Kerrigan. Earlier this year, Mr Curran was presented with the Dunshaughlin GFC Hall of Fame award for 2012.
A full forward of the old school where the number 14 had to risk life and limb around the edge of the opposing square, Noel Curran will be remembered as a gentleman on and off the field of play. He possessed a great pair of hands, could field with the best and punch the ball over the crossbar from anywhere around 30 yards out.
A native of Moynalty, Noel Curran grew up with his Mullaney cousins at Rosetown, Dunshaughlin, and as well as playing juvenile football with St Martin’s, also boxed with the local Dunshaughlin Boxing Club as a youngster, with bouts in Navan, Kells and the National Stadium. He won a Leinster Juvenile Boxing title, and also excelled at handball, tennis and table tennis.
In 1957, deceased was on the Under 14 Rural Championship-winning St Martin’s team, playing at centre forward. It was the first of three in a row at Under-14 level for the club.
He played championship football for Dunshaughlin for over 20 years from 1961 to 1983, and was on the Meath team beaten by Cork in All Ireland Junior final after a replay in 1964. As well as his All-Ireland in 1967, he won a Meath Junior Championship with Dunshaughlin, and the following year was part of the Meath team that made the groundbreaking trip to Australia under Peter McDermott.
In 1977, he won a Meath Intermediate Championship with Dunshaughlin, defeating Nobber in the final, 0-13 to 0-6. Noel Curran scored 0-6. His colleague in the full-forward line, Con O’Dwyer, passed away last year. Deceased made his final Dunshaughlin first team championship appearance in 1983 against Wolfe Tones.
After his senior championship debut in 1965 against Westmeath, Mr Curran started in ten championship games for the county, played four times as a sub and scored 2-22 in total. He played 24 National Football League games for Meath after starting in 1964 against Westmeath, scorting 6-30 in all.
In 1967, he scored 2-5 out of Meath’s 2-9 in the first round of the Leinster Championship against Louth. The Meath Chronicle wrote that: 'Curran was in magnificent form with his catching and kicking and he made the Louth full-back ‘Doc’ Butterly look completely at sea every time they went for the ball together.'
He scored two points in the All Ireland final of 1967, when Meath beat Cork by 1-9 to 0-9. The Chronicle reported: 'Curran shot two wonderful points in that inimitable, high-lobbing style of his and was decidedly unlucky not to score a goal in the early stages when he almost ran himself into the ground in an effort to meet Mellett’s low cross which flashed harmlessly wide.'
He occupied the same position of full forward the previous year when Galway outscored Meath to complete a three in-a-row. Deceased missed out on Meath’s 1970 final defeat to Kerry but returned to the county colours for a spell during the early seventies.
Following his departure from Dunshaughlin, he played with Tallaght’s Thomas Davis’ intermediate side in his forties, and played hurling with them into his fifties.
Deceased lived in Dublin for most of his life but continued to play with and show tremendous loyalty to Dunshaughlin when it was just a junior and later intermediate club and he could have played senior with a number of clubs.
His close friend, Val Dowd, recalls him as a great club man and a great friend, to him and many, who was a marvellous all rounder at whatever sport he turned his hand to.
He worked in the bar trade, initially in The Hut in Phibsboro, and subsequently, in Rialto and Ranelagh. Later, he worked in security at Bank of Ireland’s headquarters on Baggot Street, and in more recent years, did some taxi driving.
Noel Curran died peacefully at Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, on Saturday, aged 69. He is survived by his wife, Teresa; family, Olive, Sally, Paul, Frank and Michael; son-in-law; daughters-in-law; grandchildren; brothers; sisters; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nephews; nieces; relatives; and many friends.
The funeral took place on Tuesday from St Mary’s Priory, Tallaght, to Mount Jerome Crematorium. Former footballing colleagues from Dunshaughlin and Meath provided guards of honour.
Pictured below - Dunshaughlin’s senior All-Ireland football medal winners, the late Noel Curran, and Richie Kealy at the 2011 Meath senior football final between Summerhill and Dunshaughlin.
Photo: John Quirke / www.quirke.ie
Phil Synnott, The Ward
The death of Mrs Phil Synnott, Wotton Cottage, The Ward, occurred on 1st May whilst on holiday in France. Deceased was born in Saggart on the 27th November 1933 and at an early age moved to the Wotton Farm, remaining in the Wotton area for most of her life. She was the librarian in Ashbourne up to the day it moved into the council offices and was a popular member of the staff there.
Mrs Synnott was heavily involved in Donaghmore GAA Club during the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, in both playing and administrative. This was a continuation of a long connection the Synnott and Kearns families had with the club going back to its foundation.
She was known across Meath and North County Dublin for her gardening skills and for years she grew flowers, strawberries, raspberries and many other plants in the family glass houses which were sold locally and in the Dublin Fruit Market.
Deceased lived a full and active life and spent the latter years travelling to all corners of the world visiting her sons and daughters in France, UK, America and Australia. It was on one of these trips that she passed away suddenly whilst visiting France for her grandson’s confirmation.
Predeceased by her husband Joe, in June 1983, she is survived by her family, Christine, Marie, Carol, Joe, Declan and Catherine; brother, Paddy Joe; sister, Helen; nephew, Hugh; daughter-in-law, Anne; grandchildren; sister-in-law, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law and extended family.
The funeral Mass was celebrated on 9th May at St Patrick’s Church, Donaghmore, by Fr Jim Lynch and burial took place in the adjoining cemetery. A month’s memory Mass will take place on Sunday 9th June at 10am in St Patricks Church, Donaghmore.
Maureen Murray, Trim
There was considerable sadness following the death of Maureen Murray, St Loman’s Street, Trim,on 14th May last, at her residence. She was aged 98.
Deceased was born Maureen Daly in Follistown, Navan, daughter of the late Margaret and Richard Daly, and worked as a librarian in Trim from 1966 to 1981, when the library was located in the courthouse building. She was also a member of Trim ICA for many years.
Remembered as a wonderful mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Her husband, Thomas Murray, passed away on 5th May 1991, and she is survived by her daughters, Mary Ruigrok and Rita MacDomhnaill; sons, Richard, Patrick and Anthony Murray; stepson Kevin Murray; daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephew, relatives, neighbours and friends. She was predeceased recently by her stepson, Thomas Murray, the well-known poet.
The funeral took place from St Patrick’s Church, Trim to St Loman’s Cemetery. A month’s memory Mass takes place in Trim on Sunday 16th June at 11am.
James Dunne, Navan
The regretted death occurred on 5th May last of Mr James (Jimmy) Dunne, Beechmount, Trim Road, Navan, at the age of 84, at Millbury Nursing Home, Navan.
A native of Ballieboro, Co Cavan, deceased was best known for his involvement with Beechmount Ballroom which began in the early 1960s. He was predeceased by his wife Kathleen (nee Hand), on the 25th May 2008.
He is survived by his sons, Sean and Liam; daughters, Maria and Paula; brothers, sisters-in-law, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and a wide circle of friends.
The funeral Mass took place from St Mary’s Church, Navan, to St Mary’s Cemetery. A month’s memory Mass will be held on Saturday 8th June in St Mary’s Church at 6pm.
Jimmy Power, Navan
The regretted death occurred on 9th May last of Mr Jimmy Power, Claremont Estate, Navan, at the age of 73, at Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan.
Deceased was a native of Navan and a lover of all things Manchester United and Meath GAA. He is survived by his wife, Bridget; sons, Jimmy, Bernard, Paddy, John, Wille; daughters, Catherine and Dynah; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The funeral took place from St Mary’s Church, Navan to St Mary’s Cemetery, Navan. A months memory Mass will take on 9th June at 1pm in St Mary’s Church.