Recent Deaths 27-12-08

Mr JRH Fowler, Summerhill Rathmolyon was thronged last week as friends and neighbours of John Fowler were joined by figures from the Irish racing world for his funeral service and burial at the Church of St Michael and All Angels in the village. Trainer and former amateur jockey, Mr Fowler, of Rahinstown, Summerhill, died in a tree-felling accident on his lands on Monday of last week. The funeral service was conducted by Dean Robert Jones, Trim, assisted by Rev William Steacy, the curate in Rathmolyon. Rev Steacy spoke of Mr Fowler"s involvement in the local community and how his Rahinstown estate was known far and near as 'Fowler"s Racecourse", the location of the popular annual point-to-point races. He also described Mr Fowler as a dedicated family man. Close friend of Mr Fowler"s, Thomas Matthews, delivered the tribute at the Funeral Service. Mr Matthews said that John Fowler had an enviable life that few could hope to emulate. He achieved all the targets he set for himself, with a brilliant academic career and sporting success at the highest level. He and his sister, Jessica (Harrington) had an idyllic life at Rahinstown, riding, hunting and pony clubbing. 'John went to Eton, where he immediately established himself as a scholar,' Mr Matthews continued. While still at Eton in 1965, he rode his first winner, Mr Rumford trained and owned by his father, Brigadier Fowler, and he honed his skills under 'the Brig" and riding out for DL Moore and Willie Robinson. Mr Fowler continued his education at McGill University in Canada, where he obtained a first class honours degree in biochemistry. Here, he learned to play high class bridge, and during his holidays spent much time exploring America. On return to Ireland, Mr Fowler joined Pegasus horse nuts firm, which Dick Musgrave and Shane Jameson had set up. Mr Matthews said that John Fowler valued friendship above all else, and while he had a wonderful career during the 1970s, and his race riding statistics are well documented, his real enjoyment was the winners for friends. He rode winners for almost all his friends in the poker school. Mr Fowler won 75 point-to-point winners for PP Hogan. Mr Matthews continued: 'In a recent interview, John said he never got a fall from a Hogan horse. According to Ted Walsh, John was a true gentleman rider and never received a shilling from PP. It made life very difficult for his successors - today"s amateurs would have been appalled!' His training career was an immediate success. He planned his campaigns carefully, and was well rewarded by such great horses such as Bankers Benefit, Maid of Money and his beloved Opera Hat, trained for his friend, Valerie Cooper. Rahinstown meant everything to Mr Fowler and nothing illustrated this better than the annual Meath Hunt Tara Harriers Point-to-Point races. Holidays in Africa became an important part of life for John Fowler and his wife Chich, and he was a generous host to Michael Kauntze"s poker school, both at Clegarrow and at Rahinstown, for almost 25 years. Mr Fowler is survived by his wife, Chich, sons Harry and Charlie, sisters, Jessica and Sarah, brother, Simon Walford, in-laws, and extended family. The attendance at the funeral service and burial in Rathmolyon included most of the country"s leading horse trainers, including Mouse Morris, Charlie Swan, Ted Walsh, Dessie Hughes, Jim Bolger, Dermot Weld, John Oxx, Tommy Carberry, Tucker Geraghty, Frank Berry, Denise Foster, Tom Taaffe, as well as Fairyhouse Racecourse chairman, Roy Craigie, and Mr Fowler"s jockey for the past 12 years, Ross Geraghty, Drumree. Burial followed in the adjoining churchyard. Mrs M Hubble, Navan The death of Mrs Monica Hubble, Ashbrook, Clogherboy, Navan, in late November was a source of great sadness to her family and friends in Navan, Drogheda and Ardee. A member of the Clarke family, she was a highly regarded neighbour and friend, and a great enthusiast for country music, dancing and accordion music. She worked in Boyne Valley Honey in Drogheda before later nursing the elderly in St Mary"s Nursing Home, Dublin Road, Drogheda. She married Francis Hubble and had 11 children - daughters Monica, Andrea, Gloria, Aisling, Martina, Aoife, Ciara, Linda, Patrice, Janine and Emmet. Mrs Hubble was known to her 18 grandchildren as 'Nannie Mon" and will also be missed by her sons-in-law, her children"s boyfriends and girlfriend. Her remains reposed at her daughter Monica Finlay"s home in Ferdia Park, Ardee, before the funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of the Nativity, Ardee, followed by burial in Ballapousta Cemetery. A Month"s Mind Mass will be celebrated in the Church of the Nativity, Ardee, on 29th December at 10am. Mr H Burke, Carnaross A link with the Ballinlough football team which won the county intermediate football championship in 1954 was lost in early December with the passing at Our Lady"s Hospital, Navan, of Mr Henry Burke (80). A retired Garda, he was a native of Lisnagun, Carnaross, and served for many years in Dunmore East, Co Waterford, where he was actively involved with community care and the Meals on Wheels services, before returning to his native parish. Deceased is survived by his wife, Maura; son, Ciaran; daughter, Geraldine; sisters, Eileen, Imelda and Maeve; brothers, Thomas, Eamonn and Michael, New Jersey, USA; nieces, nephews and relatives. The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Ballinlough, to Ballinlough Cemetery. Mrs K Kane, Navan Much sadness was occasioned by the passing on 16th November last of Mrs Kathleen Kane, Williamstown, Trim Road, Navan. A member of the Mullen family of Ballinlough, Beauparc, Mrs Kane died in Our Lady"s Hospital, Navan, after a long illness borne bravely and without complaint. She always had a warm welcome and smile for everyone who visited her. Mrs Kane was a highly regarded cook who served her time with the Gaisford St Lawrence family in Howth Castle. Before her marriage to Benny Kane, she worked for Captain Newsome of Ashfield Stud, Beauparc. She passed on her love of cooking to all her daughters, in particular Doreen, who runs Doreen"s Bakery in Athboy. Deceased had a great love of crafts, especially sewing and knitting. She made all her daughters" First Communion and Confirmation dresses, and knitted for all her family of 10. Mrs Kane was a bingo fan and supported all the local bingos, and in more recent times, LMFM radio bingo. She also had a deep lifetime devotion to Our Lady and Padre Pio, and made several pilgrimages to Knock and Lourdes. Mrs Kane was a keen follower of all sports and took great pride in her family"s sporting achievements in camogie, athletics, boxing and Gaelic football, and since her illness, followed all types of sports on both radio and television. She supported Manchester United and Navan O"Mahonys and she was overjoyed when the club won the Meath senior championship this year, listening to the highs and lows of the game from Our Lady"s Hospital. One of her sons, Colm, won six Meath championship medals with O"Mahonys. Deceased is survived by her husband, Benny; family, Kay, Doreen, Padraig, Jimmy, Frances, Olive, Rhona, Colm and Bernard; sisters, Teresa and Maureen; brothers, Richie, Tommy, Eugene, Willie, Jimmy and Patsy. She was the proud grandmother of 29 grandchildren (three of whom predeceased her as little angels), and great grandmother of seven. The funeral Mass in St Mary"s Church, Navan, was celebrated by Fr Gerry McCormack, Adm, Navan, assisted by Fr Peter Mulvaney, PP, Moynalvey and Fr Noel Horneck, PP, Dunderry. Burial took place in St Mary"s Cemetery.