The Late Nancy O'Neill The recent death of Nancy O'Neill of Eadestown sent waves of shock and sorrow throughout the County of Wicklow such was the large amount of people whose lives she touched. The matriarch of the O'Neill family was particularly well known in the West of Wicklow but her recent passing also affected surrounding Counties as well. Few families in this or any other County could claim such involvement in GAA affairs as the O'Neills. One or other of Nancy's seven daughters, six sons, 40 grandchildren or 17 great- grandchildren played, or were involved in Clubs in Stratford, St Josephs; Donard, St Nicholas,Kiltegan, Michael Dwyers, Baltinglass, St Patrick's Ferns of Wexford, Clonmore of Carlow or Kilcullen of Kildare. Her best known son was Nick O'Neill who played all grades of football for Stratford and the County and is the present Wicklow U-21 Football Manager, a position also held by a son-in-law Gail Dunne. Other grandsons who played football and or Hurling for the County teams include Furlongs, Wynnes, Hallorans and O'Neills. A number of the ladies in her family were well known Camogie players and mentors with Kiltegan or Donard. Kathleen, Linda, Edel and Tayna Wynee and Karen Furlong have won Championship medals with Kiltegan while most of them also played for Wicklow. Nancy passed away in Naas Hospital on September 6 on her 62nd wedding anniversary. Her remains were removed from her residence to Davidstown Church the following day and her burial. Her popularity was made obvious for everyone to see by the huge turnout to her funeral, one of the largest seen in Davidstown for many a year. Rev Fr McCarthy, Davidstown PP, and Fr Charles Byrne, PP Clonmore, both celebrated the service. Nancy's 40 grandchildren formed a guard of honour beside her coffin. She is mourned and sadly missed by her husband, Nicholas, sons John, Pat, Andrew, Tommy, Ray, Nico, daughters Teresa, Nuala, Mary, Kathleen, Angela, Gerty and Anne, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren all her relatives and friends. May she rest in peace. Courtesy of the Wicklow People 29th September 2005 Tweet

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