The Late Mary Earls The death of Mrs Mary Earls, Derrymullen, Ballinasloe caused widespread sadness and was deeply regretted by all who knew her. That Mary passed to her eternal reward at the beginning of Christmas Week was all the more poignant for her nearest and dearest, and for the people of Ballinasloe who held her in affection and esteem throughout her lifetime- a life that was lived honourably, diligently and with a proud commitment to the highest personal and family ideals. A member of one of East Galway's best known families, the Egans of Derrymullen, Mary Earls' 42 years of married life were mostly lived little more than a hundred yards from where she was born and reared. She was the daughter of Denis Egan, one of four brothers who were among the most outstanding sportsmen of their time; Denis and Johnny Egan were on the Galway team which won the 1925 All-Ireland football championship; they had helped Galway defeat Kerry in a replay of the 1919 semi-final and in the final, won by the legendary Larry Stanley's Kildare team, Galway were captained by a third Egan brother, Tom. The fourth Martin, was also an accomplished footballer, a member of the all-conquering Ballinasloe club who dominated the club scene in Galway for almost twenty years, including an unbeaten run in the county championship from 1913 to 1929. Local statisticians estimate that Denis Egan and his clubmate Paddy Roche hold the record for most Galway senior football medals won in any era. The Egans also excelled in athletics, boxing and rugby, although the GAA was their primary sporting interest. Denis, who was acclaimed for his leadership qualities as the figurehead of many teams he was associated with, was chiefly instrumental, along with another Derrymullen man Jack Fallon and two Dunmore men, Mick Donnellan and Mick Halliday, for resolving a complex administrative hold-up that threatened to block the running of the 1925 All-Ireland series, so the Gaels of Galway were in Denis Egan's debut for his achievements both on and off the field. His life wasn't all about sporting endeavours; he was a busy, hard-working farmer, progressive in this thinking although times in general were hard. He inculcated in his children a keen sense of place, in common with his neighbours, for Derrymullen was traditionally noted for its community spirit and the local people there had a strong attachment to their roots. Denis had married Bridget Connaire from neighbouring Kilclooney; she was a sister of another Gaelic football folk hero, the powerfully built Mick Connaire, stalwart full-back on the Galway teams that won the 1934 and 1938 All-Irelands. Denis and Bridget Egan had three daughters, Mary, Eileen and Verna, and one son Johnny who, sadly died in his mid-forties. Johnny Egan and his three sisters had a happy childhood and, in time, Mary met Vincent Earls who would become one of the best known builders in the county and the Midlands, later diversifying into large urban construction projects and property development. However, in the late 1950s provincial Ireland was an economic wilderness, with even the most committed of its workforce destined for the vast building sites of Britain and the United States, an exodus from the West of Ireland, in particular that the late Breandán O hEithir bitterly described as " the flight from the snipe grass". But, emigration wasn't necessarily an evil thing, once the young Irish couples taking the lonely boath to Holyhead had a sense of ambition and a willingness to embrace the future, and the personal drive to influence and shape it for themselves. Vincent Earls and Mary Egan were positive from the start about what they wanted out of their life together; they were married in St. Joseph's Church, Highgate, London in October 1960, and had four good years in a country that offered plenty of work and opportunities, and two of their four children (Tina and Michael) were born there. Then, realising that things were improving in Ireland as the more confident youth culture of the 1960s lifted flagging spirits, they returned home to Galway, where their two other children ( Stephaine and Declan) were born. After living a few years in Loughrea, the family settled back in Derrymullen and Vincent started his own business in 1972. Mary would play an integral part in its steady growth and development, working in the main office administration for many years, in addition to rearing her family, and she was recognised by the company as a vital source of inspiration and support, especially when large projects were taken on, including Ballinasloe's magnificent new civic offices, the superb Marina Point development nearby, and the Silver Quay and Golden Island developments in Athlone. Mary took ill in March, 2002 and despite intensive treatment and the heartfelt prayers of her family and friends, she would have only nine more months to live. But it was an illness bravely borne; she displayed inspiring courage and fortitude, and in her own distinctive quiet way she was prepared to meet her maker. Her final months were spent in the devoted care of the staff of Galway Hospice to whom the Earls family expressed their most profound gratitude. Many tributes have been paid to Mary since her untimely passing; to her warm, caring nature; to her good deeds, many of them private; to the joy she brought into people's lives, and to the example she set. She was a charming person to meet, with a vibrant personality, and she was an essentially good person, always positive and hopeful in her outlook on life. Her priority was her family and family values, and her other main interests were reading, gardening, walking, sport (especially the GAA), and the Legion of Mary. She died on December 22nd at Galway Hospice, and lay in repose at Greham's Funeral Home, Ballinasloe before Requiem Mass at St. Michael's Church and burial at Creagh Cemetery on Christmas Eve. There was a large attendance on both days of the funeral, widely representative of the many firms, organisation, groups, sporting bodies and countless individuals with whom she had contact down through the years. The late Mary Earls is survived by her husband Vincent; daughters Tina and Stephanie; sons Michael and Declan; daughters-in-law Katie and Paula; grandchildren Nicholas, Patrick, Helena and Moya; sisters Eileen and Verna; brothers-in-law; sister-in-law; nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. Courtesy of the Connacht Tribune February 2003 Tweet

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