Partner in Garryquinn motors dealership for over a decade

OBITUARY: John Garry

The funeral took place in his native Athboy recently of John Garry, who with Patrick Quinn was a partner in Garryquinn Garages Ltd, which operated on Academy Street in Navan for over a decade from 1973, and was one of the town's leading car sales companies of the time.

Mr Garry died at University Hospital, Galway, where he had retired to live in Kilcolgan in recent years, on 6th October, aged 80.

From Rathvale in Athboy, he grew up attending the nearby national school in Rath Chairn, where his love of the Irish language and culture was first nurtured. He proudly wore the Fáinne, to show his grá for the teanga Gaeilge.

After school his first job was on a milk float, while he later operated a bookmaker’s and turf accountants outlet for JL Finnegan in Athboy. His first job in car sales was with Gilrose in Drogheda, where he met his wife, Doreen, and they were married in 1969, settling in the town.

When Gilrose was closing its Navan garage on Academy Street, John teamed up with Pat Quinn, who was working with Motor Distributors Ltd in Dublin, and they took over the business, successfully operating a garage and dealership there from 1973 to 1984, dealing in Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen and Mazda. Garryquinn was named overall national Mercedes Benz dealer of the year in 1979.

After that partnership came to an end, John took over the running of the Slane House public house in Slane for a number of years, before the call of the motor business lured him back, and he opened up a Peugeot dealership at Kilmoon Cross near Ashbourne. Then, he worked with son Brian in Hollybrook Motors in Dublin up to the mid-1990s.

John had a keen interest in horseracing, and with Oliver Finnegan, enjoyed success with racehorse, Princely Ray. A hurler in his younger days in Athboy, he played golf in later years, with success in the Barton Shield. He also followed rugby, and when he could no longer participate in sport, watched it on television.

John will be remembered as a gentle, unassuming and quiet character, meticulous in everything he did, and with a great love of his family and grandchildren.

Son of the late Thomas and Helena Garry, he is survived by his wife, Doreen; family, Sharon, Eddie, Lorraine, Brian and Donna; 12 grandchildren; extended family and many friends. He was predeceased by his sister, Imelda Doyle.

His funeral took place from St Patrick's Church, Rath Chairn, to St James' Cemetery, Athboy, celebrated by Fr Padraig McMahon, PP, Athboy.