Death of former county hurling board chairman, Finian Englishby
Sportsman with honours in Gaelic games, boxing and athletics
The death occurred this morning of Finian Englishby of Athboy, a former chairman of Meath County Hurling Board and a prominent figure in the sport for many years.
He had celebrated his 93rd birthday at the weekend.
Finian was a former vice chairman and PRO of Meath Hurling Board for two years before becoming chairman for four years from 1985. He was responsible for introducing a 'Five Year Development Plan', and set up a committee, whose aims were to develop and promote hurling in all primary schools, through to post primary schools and colleges, chaired by Fr Sean Heaney, with the assistance of Dessie Ferguson.
A native of Old Road, Dunsany, who grew up in Drumree, Finian won Meath championships in football, hurling, boxing, and cross country. He has been associated with various clubs, including St Patricks, Gloucestershire (SHC), Glenealy Wicklow, (SHC), Rathmolyon, Wolfe Tones, and Athboy. He played Junior Hurling with Kiltale, winning a Meath JHC Medal, and was presented with the Hall of Fame Award by Kiltale Hurling Club in 2004.
He was a recipient of a Sean Gael award from Coiste Contae na Mi.
A retired building contractor who lived at Chapelands, Athboy, he passed away peacefully at his residence.
Finian is the last surviving member of the family of 14 of Eugene and Mary Englishby, and was predeceased by his son, Martin, and granddaughter, Liana.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, a member of the Foley family, Dunshaughlin, sons Ian, Enda, Fiacra, Eoghan and Diarmuid, daughters Fiona (Shiels), Niamh (Mackey) Dara, Orla (Howard) Róisín, Treasa (Brown), grandchildren Steven, Kayleigh, Alan, Hannah, Eoghan, Eibhlin, Andrew, Connor, Sophie, Maya, Olivia, Finn, Lucas, Yasmine, Chloe, Amelia, Aaron, Katie, Sean and Jack, great grandchildren Alfie, Adam, Rylee, Luke, Cody, Ethan and Oisín, sons and daughters-in-law Hughie, Justine, Cecelia, Paul, Justin, Danny, Mary, Gary and Roisín, nieces, nephews, relatives and wide circle of friends.
Finian will repose in Mullens Funeral Home Athboy (C15KW58) on Saturday afternoon from 3pm until 7pm. Removal on Sunday morning for Funeral Mass at 11.30am in St James’ Church, Athboy, followed by burial in St James' Cemetery.