Meath Obituaries 2002

Kit Lynch RIP
The most popular columns in Royal County are the obituaries appearing under the heading Friends we Lost. And after being involved in this area for a number of years it seems strange to have to pen a similar type obituary on my own father Christopher Lynch. Christopher or Christy to his own family, i.e. his brothers and sisters, but to everybody else Kit.
Suffice to say, that without Kit Lynch there would be no Royal County and no such obituaries. For it was he who engrained in our family a huge love and interest in Gaelic Games. After his family, Gaelic Games, and in particular football, was his life and if it wasn’t talking about Joe Keohane, Jimmy Murray or Christy Ring at the breakfast, dinner and tea, it was off to a game in the evening or on Sunday afternoon and probably another fixture that night. As kids we knew it no other way.
Kit liked his Sweet Afton and the odd pint. And if he was socialising, guess what his conversation dwelled around? Politics hardly ever came into it. Although he wavered between Labour and Fianna Fail at times, games were analysed over and over again. Each pro and con was presented and like everybody he had that little dogged streak in him, he generally thought he was right.
And he had every right to be. Kit Lynch was no mean footballer himself and a popular and true story doing the rounds concerned a question posed to the great Phil ‘The Gunner’ Brady, who as a Garda was based just over the Cavan border in Mullagh. When asked who was the greatest ever footballer he came across in a long and varied career, the Gunner’s answer was, “you might not have heard about him that much, he did not play much county football, but he was a fella by the name of Kit Lynch from Oldcastle.”
Some recommend-ation indeed. Kit had come up against ‘The Gunner’ while playing in the popular tournament held each year in Millbrook (near Oldcastle) back in the 40s. The meeting of a North Meath-East Cavan selection against the Army or Garda attracted thousands. Usually the natives’ midfield consisted of Kit and Mick Higgins with ‘The Gunner’ or Bill Carlos of Roscommon in the other corner.
Kit Lynch never played senior for the county. But he was part of the victorious Junior All-Ireland winning team of 1947. When I say part, well he was involved in the early stages of the competition, but a little altercation with Christy Kelly Snr. while playing against Athboy saw a three-month suspension handed out and no more junior participation. That All-Ireland medal still sits at home and when meeting Christy Kelly on the countless occasions Kilskyre and Athboy came into hurling contact, the two had a good joke and laugh at the shenanigans years previous. But that medal had a double-edged meaning to my father and to his dying day he claims it was ‘a fix’, that he was deliberately sent packing by a referee and that it was no coincidence that the match officials own clubmate gained Kit’s place.
His family originated from near Moylagh, but later moved to take over a farm at Crossdrum, which would be classed as St. Brigids territory. In his teens he lined out with a club called Rahaghy. Among his colleagues was the legendary Jim Kearney of 1939/49 fame. Rahaghy originated like a number of other clubs during the 30s from a group of men and boys with no other type of pastime but kick a ball around in a field from the Angelus Bell until the sun went down.
Rahaghy went out of existence and Jim Kearney, now a county senior, persuaded Kit to join him at Oldcastle. The Blues had a powerful combination around this time and beside Kearney provided the like of Paddy Beggan, Kevin Devin and Hugh Lynch (no relation as this part of the world is full of Lynchs) for the mould breaking ‘39 combination. They contested the junior decider of 1944 with Walterstown and after objections and counter objections, Oldcastle finally won out. Going straight into the top ranks the North-Meath men made it all the way to the senior decider and a clash with Skryne the following autumn. Alas, nothing went right on the day. Kit started off at left half back and later moved to midfield (his two usual positions) but the Taramen inspired by the like of Mick and Paddy O’Brien and ‘49 captain Brian Smyth proved too strong.
Bit by bit the Oldcastle team went their different ways, emigration in the area was high and after a club was formed in Millbrook (Ballinacree were banned from football back in the late 20s) Kit Lynch decided to throw his lot in with the new bunch, along with his brother Frank ‘Chips’.
Millbrook were a more than useful junior combination and produced the like of 1957 minor midfield star Jimmy Halpin who later played with New York for a decade. Their usual method of transport to a game was to pack about 50-60 players, supporters etc into the back of Halpins open-back lorry and what craic there was as they travelled the highways and byways of the county.
I suppose Kit’s break with Millbrook and playing football arrived in the mid 50s when he married Anna Kiernan from Springville (between Kilskyre and Kells) and came to live in Crossakiel. Mammy’s own brothers, Phil and Mick, were playing for Drumbaragh at this stage and although Killallon made a number of attempts, via Phil Gilsenan, to resurrect his playing career, Kit stuck to his retirement guns.
A lull followed, but once we started playing underage football with Ballinlough, the brown Morris Oxford and later the green Hillman Hunter were out. About a dozen budding stars were thrown into the back seat as every ground in Meath were paid a visit or two.
Kit reckoned none of us were ever any good, definitely not a patch on the 'ould fella. But I suppose it was only his way of keeping us on our toes. And I don’t feel we were all that bad. Three or four of the lads were on the Ballinlough team that won the junior in 1988, the intermediate in ‘91 and have remained in the top flight since, winning League Division One on a couple of occasions. I don’t feel there are many who would disagree with me when I say that Declan has been Ballinlough’s best player since their arrival in the senior ranks and even at 36 still remains among the top midfielders in the county. Frank was taken under the wings of the legendary George Baugh (a firm friend of Kit’s) as a youngster and went on to play with the Meath senior hurlers for about eight years in the midfield position. A bad injury in a vital championship match with future winners Killyon in Athboy during the summer of 1985 brought a premature end to his career. A sister, Connie, was also a useful lady footballer and played for Meath for most of the 80s and again as a midfielder. Peter acted as a Meath Junior selector during the late 80s and early 90s.
Kit’s idea of a Sunday was Second Mass in Kilskyre, a chat outside the Chapel afterwards, maybe a jar or two and home for the dinner before heading to Athboy or Kildakey, Kells or Navan. As the lads got older and drove their own cars and had a few extra bob in their pockets, he began to get spoilt. The free drinks and after-match meal were now coming his way, a far cry from the 70s when the after-game ritual was a stop-off at May Caffrey’s (a Sunday custom around north-Meath) for the best ice-cream in town.
But things were not always that rosy. Rearing a family of 15 brought with it its own difficulties. Money was tight but there was always food on the table and school books were bought so that every one of us enjoyed a good education. Mammy was a huge influence in this sector.
Kit could recall how in 1946 he rode a bicycle from Oldcastle to Dublin and back to see Kerry draw with Roscommon in the All-Ireland final, a round journey of over 100 miles. He hardly ever missed a Meath championship game.
As a wee nipper I can remember how he brought me to every match during the 1967 All-Ireland campaign. All in the back of Mickey Garry’s (the local shopkeeper) blue van, about twelve of us sitting on some kind of temporary seating in the back. Tullamore against Westmeath and the traffic jams after. But the Garrys always came well prepared, with flasks of tea and thick sandwiches. Offaly in the Leinster final and then the semi against everbody’s favourites, Mayo. But a five minute spell of madness during which Meath shot 2-2 had us all going crazy. We were told that the television sets at home all went blank around this time.
I did say every game. I should have said not the final, too small you see but that night as we looked at the bonfires burning brightly over Knocklough and Moylagh country I had the programme of the game perched in my lap at 9pm. Needless to say every fact and figure was digested over and over again.
Kit was not all that fond (a number of people his age were in the same bracket) of driving into the city even to watch Meath or the Lion Killers as he often described them and later driving pals would include Peadar Byrne and Petey Tunney (both ironically had black Morris Minors) and Paddy Higgins. All are hale and hearty. Good friends, and Kit had many.
Like former Syddan star Phil O’Brien (an uncle of Gerry McEntee), Phil came to farm in Crossakiel about 40 years back and manys the night Kit went to ‘ceile’ in ‘Phil Briens’ as he called him. Guess what was on the agenda?
On the Sunday before his death he remarked to me that some of the happiest hours of his later life was spent on Sunday afternoons in the company of a Cavan man Michael ‘Dub’ Reilly who had, as they say, married into the parish nearly 40 years previous. Michael’s daughter Marie is married to Martin and they would bring Daddy home after a few hours and a few pints intermingled with friendly and relaxed chat.
Another enjoyable time was visiting further in-laws. Larry Gibneys house in Ballinlough and a game of 25. According to reports the battles to reign supreme were fierce and usually the ones who abstained were those who came out on top.
Another friend and heck another Cavan man was Ned Connell who works in the local Co-Op Stores and who came to the house every day for a bit of dinner. The craic was mighty as Royal and Breffni clashes of old were relived over and over again.
Croke Park was out in recent years as he wisely decided that a game on the television was a much better option. But Kit probably went to at least two local games a week prior to his death in early July, the famous cap and coat tucked under his right arm in case of emergencies. He could be critical of performances and once embarrassed us all by claiming that a certain Kilskyre hurler would be better off with a grape than a hurley stick. Luckily the other party took the remark all in good fun.
He had a football lingo all of his own and in conversation he could come up with descriptions like ‘you’s are only kittens’, ‘dish cloths’ or ‘young fry’ (young footballers). In fact, at home and amongst his friends in Kilskyre and Ballinlough they started calling him ‘Down the Years’, so often did he use the phrase.
Kit liked to go back in time. Paul Russell, a Kerry star from the 20s and 30s and who came to work in Oldcastle as a Guard was a particular hero. Russell trained the Oldcastle team of the late 30s, early 40s and later acted as a selector on the All-Ireland winning team of 49. He recalled the training sessions under the Kerryman and the ‘road work’ as the players trotted for miles and miles around the roadways of the parish. Then there was Jack Gilsenan’s famous ‘rubs’ afterwards.
He had stories from matches too, like a senior championship clash with Navan Parnells in 1945. Oldcastle were seemingly running away with things and half way through the second half a well-known Meath player jumped onto the crossbar and broke it in an attempt to get the game abandoned. I think a bit of rope came in handy at the Athboy venue. Then there was this 1949 hero who kicked the ball into another field in an effort to lose the only one available. Others brought up in conversation included the legendary ‘Pax’ Gaynor from Ballinlough who apparently was the Daddy of all hardmen.
And then there was a vital Oldcastle-Dunderry championship match which the Blues won. But the wise so and sos from Dunderry objected because an umpire from Kells was seen watching a soccer match. A replay was ordered and Oldcastle again came out on top.
Sorry if you feel I am going on and on, the hardest part was to decide where to stop. But he was my father, our father and I feel we must dedicate the entire content of this book to his memory. He lived life to the full, never once had to visit hospital, was not even on any type of medicine at the time of his death and thankfully passed away at home amongst his family free from any pain.
Members of both Ballinlough GFC (he was a President of the club) and Kilskyre HC formed an impressive guard of honour as the coffin draped in the blue of Oldcastle, the red of Ballinlough and the black and amber of Kilskyre was brought to Kilskyre Church that sad Thursday evening.
The huge attendance at his removal and funeral included people from all walks of life, friends, business, sport. Fr. Andy Doyle PP Kilskyre performed a very befitting ceremony.
Christopher Lynch is survived by his wife Anna, sons John, Paddy, Michael, Frank, Peter, Martin, Declan, Paul, Colm and Derek; daughters Elizabeth, Kathleen, Connie, Caroline and Sharon; 34 grandchildren; brothers Tommy and Frank; daughters-in-law; sons-in-law; brothers-in-law and nephew Mark.
Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis and may the soft sod of Kilskyre rest lightly on his gentle and noble soul.
As he used to say leaving the house “Good Luck” ... until we meet again.

Tom Duff (Syddan)
Won championship medals with his native Syddan. A lifelong PTAA member, Tom ran the popular Anglers Rest for a number of years. Old Syddan footballers from the ‘50s formed a guard of honour at his removal.

Mark Clinton (Moynalty and Dublin)
From a well known Moynalty family, Mark was to make a big name for himself in the political world. A Fine Gael TD for a number of years, the Moynalty exile rose to become Minister for Agriculture from 1973 to ‘77. On the football front, Mark Clinton was a valued member of the famine breaking 1930 squad and came on against Kerry in the All-Ireland decider.

Edward (Eddie) Christie (Rathmolyon)
A native of Rathmolyon, Eddie lived most of his life in London. A brother of former county player Paddy Christie and an uncle of the present Dublin full back, Eddie once beat Eric Bristow in a game of darts.

Peter Diamond (Gibbstown and Mayo)
A native of Mayo, Peter was predeceased by his wife Babs only two months earlier. Son Paddy is highly involved with Wolfe Tones.

Thomas (Toss) Regan (Kiltale)
From a well known south Meath family, Toss played football for his native Rathmolyon and hurling with Boardsmill. A brother of popular Trim solicitor Michael A Regan.

John (Jack) Douglas (Hill of Down)
Jack was Vice President of Killyon hurling club and a big supporter of the small ball game all his life.

Basil Bowens (Walterstown)
Basil was a native of Hayes and from a family steeped in the Walterstown tradition. A star player he acted as captain and was later to become Chairman and Honourary President of the club. Basil Bowens was voted onto the Walterstown Hall of Fame list in 1979 and was at all of Meath’s All-Ireland final appearances from 1939 right up to 2001.
Basil also played football for Seneschalstown and at his removal to Johnstown Church, a guard of honour was formed by members of the Walterstown club.

Kevin Smyth (Kiltale/Batterstown)
Kevin was the Kiltale Hall of Fame Award winner in 1999 and was a noted dual player. His medal collection included junior hurling with Batterstown in 1949, an intermediate football with Dunboyne in 1952, a senior hurling in the St. Patricks jersey the following year, a Feis Cup with the same club in 1955 and an O’Growney Cup souvenir with St. Patricks again in 1958. Kevin played most of his hurling and football with Batterstown and won junior hurling (1958) and a junior football B medal with this club in 1966. He was a brother of 1949 captain Brian.

Maura McDermott-Byrne (Navan and Dublin)
Maura was the daughter of Meath legend Peter ‘the man in the cap’ McDermott. She led a very eventful life before illness forced her to retire from her teaching role. Among the attendance at her funeral at The Ward Cemetery was GAA Director General Liam Mulvihill, Matt Gilsenan and Liam Creavin, the Joint Presidents of the Meath County Board, County Chairman and Secretary Fintan Ginnity and Barney Allen plus most of the surviving members of the great ‘49, ‘54 and ‘67 All-Ireland winning combination.

Austin Brady (Oldcastle)
One of the all time greats of Oldcastle football, Austin won a Meath junior championship medal with the Blues in 1944 and was a regular member of the great Oldcastle teams of the ‘40s. Austin played hurling with Kilskyre and is buried in Moylagh.

Mary Ann (Ciss) Fagan (Killallon)
A very useful camogie player in her youth, Mary Ann was the mother of noted footballers and hurlers Jimmy, Jack and Terry. Jack or Johnny was a regular at midfield on the Meath team which went to the All-Ireland decider of 1966. Jimmy was also a panel member.

Peadar Byrne (Kilmessan and Portlaoise)
From Pike Corner in Kilmessan, Peadar won a number of underage trophies with his native club. On moving to Laois, he continued to play and was always a loyal supporter of the Meath football team.

Peggy Lynch (Carlanstown)
Peggy’s sons gave tremendous service to the St. Michaels club.

Felix Smyth (Castletown and Navan)
Felix was a native of Castletown and a noted footballer in his younger days. He was a star attacker as the north Meath combination swept to intermediate honours in 1946. On moving to Navan, Felix became involved in many communal projects but never forgot his native Heath. Ironically, when Castletown again gained the intermediate crown in 1976, Felix Smyth acted as a much valued first aid man. His grandsons play underage football with Simonstown.

Kathleen Mullally (Bellaney)
A talented camogie player for club and county, when the game thrived in north Meath back in the ‘20s and ‘30s. Kathleen was buried in Ballinacree Cemetery.

Eamonn Monaghan (Syddan)
A former player with the club, Eamonn later served as a committee member with Syddan and was highly involved with Scor.

Jimmy Morris (Kells)
A very active member of the local Gaeil Colmcille club, Jimmy hailed from an old and respected Kells family.

Patricia Whyte (Skryne)
The mother of Sean and Tony who have given tremendous service to Skryne.

Nancy Phelan nee Maguire (Crossakiel and Dublin)
Nancy moved to Dublin as a young girl to work in McBerneys. She became involved in the Royal Meath Association and was Assistant Secretary in 1949 when Meath were crowned All-Ireland champions for the first time. The work carried out by the RMA in those years was colossal and the association played a huge part in the success of Royal County teams. Nancy remained a keen supporter and attended the 50th anniversary celebrations of that great win in 1999.

Anna White (Rathkenny)
Anna was in her 99th year and had a memory spanning back over 95 of these. She was proud of her 110 descendants, 10 children, 46 grandchildren and 54 great grandchildren. Her sons played for Rathkenny for many years.

Noel Long (Ashbourne and Carlow)
Although involved with local Carlow clubs, Noel never forgot his roots and was a huge follower of the Meath footballers.

Patrick (Paddy) Heery (Navan)
A great GAA follower, Paddy was the oldest of a family of 16. Seamus of 1949 fame was a brother, while Skryne star Mick O’Dowd is one of many nephews.

Tom Brady (Cortown)
The father of 12, Tom and his wife Sarah celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary earlier in the year. An avid follower of both Cortown and Meath teams.

John Morgan (Castlerickard)
John was a member of the 1947 Boardsmill team who swept to Meath junior championship honours.

Shane McNamee (Ballinlough)
A young man of 22, Shane was part of a family long associated with Ballinlough. His father Seamus played with the north Meath outfit for many years and later acted as a selector. A very happy person, Shane was renowned for his smile. His younger brother Declan played senior with the club in 2002. Hugh crowds attended both the removal and funeral at the Church of the Assumption, Ballinlough.

Patrick Halton (Kilbride Trim)
Patrick, with his good friend Jim Gannon cycled to Croke Park on many occasions to see Meath play. He was in his 97th year.

Frances McKeever (Kilmainhamwood)
A keen GAA follower, Frances was the mother of Percy McKeever, a man synonymous with the Wood for many decades.

Shane White (Skryne)
Shane was only 19 years of age at the time of his tragic accident. He played with Skryne.

Patrick Farrelly (Drumbaragh)
A lifelong supporter of gaelic games.

Teresa Murphy (Navan)
Her son Paul was a Meath minor and a star attacker with Navan O’Mahoneys for a number of years.

Christopher (Christy) Gibbons (Kilmessan)
A native of Portumna in Galway, Christy moved to Kilmessan at a young age. He immediately became involved with the local club and won numerous county championships and Feis Cup medals with Kilmessan. Christy also played for Meath, usually lining out in goals. When his playing days were over he continued to assist the Blues, acting as a selector for a number of years. A real gentleman, Christy Gibbons was in his 89th year and President of the club at the time of his death.

Sean Eiffe (Ratoath)
From a grand old and respected Ratoath family Sean, a Garda was tragically killed in the line of duty. A Meath minor in the late ‘70s, Sean Eiffe played for the Meath seniors on a number of occasions, was a regular county junior panel member and a regular fixture in the middle of the field for his club.

Tommy McPhillips (Nobber)
Tommy was only in his 30s when struck down by Multiple Sclerosis, an illness he bore with great dignity. He was a former Treasurer of Nobber.

Vera Harding (Slane)
Vera was the wife of prominent Meath County Board and Slane official Oliver Harding.

Agnes Yore (Trim)
Agnes was the widow of Paddy Yore, the ex Chairman of the Meath Hurling Board.

Julia Farrell (Seneschalstown)
From Beauparc, Julia was the wife of former Seneschalstown player Mick, a recent Sean Gael award winner.

Kitty O’Dwyer (Dunshaughlin)
Kitty was the widow of Davy, a member of the well known Dunshaughlin GAA family.

Liam Griffin (Dublin-Ballivor)
The father of popular Ballivor official Caroline Burke.

Dora Marry (Duleek)
The wife of well known Meath GAA supporter Gerry.

Mollie Nally (Dunderry)
Mollie was the mother of Tommy, the popular Dunderry official who is also a member of the Meath Disciplinary Committee.

Terese Smith (Navan)
Terese was the wife of prominent Navan O’Mahonys official Martin.

Eddie Allen (Summerhill)
Eddie was a very effective Hill selector when the south Meath men were county kingpins during the 1970s.

John Fagan (Summerhill-Baconstown)
From Lyndville, Enfield John was a former Summerhill player and Baconstown official.

Peter Smith (Dunderry)
A prominent official with the Dunderry club.

Rose Carolan (Kilmainhamwood)
A keen GAA supporter and the mother of Seamus, Matt and Patsy who were involved with Kilmainhamwood.

Monica Rowe (Syddan)
The mother of former Meath star Cormac, Monica was from the famous O’Brien footballing family of Syddan and an aunt of the great Gerry McEntee.

Ciaran Flanagan (Kells)
Ciaran was a good friend and neighbour of us all here in The Lynn Group. An extremely popular Fianna Fail Councillor, he won a junior hurling championship medal with the local Gaeil Colmcille in 1970. Ciaran followed this up with an intermediate hurling medal in ‘74 and a junior football souvenir that same year. He played wing back in the first round of the senior hurling championship in 1975 when Kells pulled off a famous victory over Athboy. His sons are involved with Drumbaragh.

Thomas Brendan Clarke (Duleek)
Thomas’ grandsons Sean, Ross and Oisin all play underage with Simonstown.

Sharon Fitzsimons (Killyon)
Sharon was only 32 years of age and played camogie with Killyon. Also a keen hurling supporter. Killyon camogie team formed a guard of honour at her removal and funeral.

Father Patrick O’Reilly (Oldcastle and Nobber)
From a well known Oldcastle GAA family, Father Patrick got involved in local GAA affairs wherever he was appointed. A former parish priest of Nobber, he retired two years previous but continued to live in the village.

Noel (Cha) Reilly (Dunboyne)
A corner back with Dunboyne for years at both football and hurling. From a well known GAA family, Noel was a brother of Jimmy and an uncle of former county star Brendan.

PJ Cole (Kells)
A great follower of Gaeil Colmcille and Meath football. His father Thomas played for both Meath and Moynalty

Molly Collins (Beauparc)
The mother of Tommy ‘Pop’ Collins, the popular former Vice Chairman of the County Board and present Leinster Council delegate

Delia O’Neill (Bettystown)
Delia O’Neill, Laytown died 26/03/02 aged 91 years, was the mother of Pat O’Neill, former Co. Board Chairman (‘76-’78) and present Central Rep. Delia’s brother Paddy Moclair was the legendary Mayo footballer of the 1930s - winning six National Football League medals in a row, as well as 1936 All-Ireland. Paddy resided in Ballina, Co Mayo. Delia, after her husband Hugh’s death in 1958 returned to teaching as a Domestic Science teacher and taught in Drogheda and Balbriggan Vocational Schools until her retirement in 1976.

Marion Dunne (Mornington)
The mother of St. Colmcilles secretary Norbert Dunne

Larry O’Brien (Drumree)
A star footballer, he won an All-Ireland junior medal with Meath in 1952 and was part of the panel which beat Kerry to claim the All-Ireland senior title two years later. On the club front, Larry gained junior championship honours with both Drumree and Dunshaughlin and an intermediate medal with the Drumree club

Thomas ‘Toss’ Reilly (Navan)
A great all round sportsman Toss, an All-Ireland Snooker Champion during the 1980s, was a great follower of the Meath team.

Thomas Johnson (Dunshaughlin)
From a grand old GAA family, his uncle Kevin was a star with Skryne and Meath during the 1940s. Thomas was a huge supporter of Dunshaughlin and there was a great sense of grief when news of his sad death spread amongst the Black and Amber contingent, who travelled to Carlow for the recent Leinster club clash with Rathvilly.

Charlie McDonagh (Slane)
Originally from Donacarney and not alone a great match analyst but a big follower of the Meath team.

Jane Smith (Gormanston)
Popularly known as Ciss, she was the mother of Phil Smith, a Meath star of the ‘70s. A nephew was none other than the legendary Pat ‘Red’ Collier.

Margaret McEnroe (Oldcastle)
Only known as Mamie and the wife of Batty, an Oldcastle footballer of the 1940s and ‘50s. Mamies sons John, Bart and Leo all starred for Oldcastle over the past two decades. John and Leo also played for the Meath seniors.

Andy Farrelly (Garlow Cross and Drumree)
Andy loved the craic and song and stood in goals for the Kilmessan footballers when they won the senior championship back in 1939. He also acted as goalkeeper for his native Walterstown.

Annie Walsh (Kiltale)
Known as Babs many of her grandsons are noted hurlers and footballers including Trim stars Richie and Ronan Fitzsimons

Colm Hilliard RIP
Colm Hilliard served Navan O’Mahonys as a dual player and an official. He won five senior football championship medals from 1957 to 1961, one intermediate football championship medal in 1956, one intermediate hurling medal (1961), three Feis Cup medals (‘55,’56 and ‘58 though he played only in the latter final).
In addition he won two Meath minor football championships with the Salles in 1953 and 1954. He was also part of the Meath Junior Hurling team that reached the All-Ireland final in 1961, and won a Leinster medal en route.
Playing at left corner forward he notched 0-3 in the 1957 SFC final including the decisive score in a 0-11 to 1-7 win over Skryne to clinch the club’s second senior title. The following year he filled the same slot as O’Mahonys triumphed by 2-6 to 1-2 over the Taramen in a replay at Kells and scored a point before retiring injured. He was replaced by the late Harry Ratty. In 1959 he appeared as a second-half sub for the injured Brendan Cahill as the Brews Hill side completed a hat trick of title with a 1-9 to 2-5 win over Skryne. Drumbaragh provided the opposition when Navan O’Mahonys won their fourth successive title with a 2-11 to 0-6 win in Trim. It was a case of déja vu as Colm replaced Brendan Cahill at half-time. He completed his collection of senior championship medals when lining out at left corner forward in 1961 and scored 0-2 in O’Mahonys 1-8 to 0-8 over Trim.
While still a player in his early 20s he served on the O’Mahonys executive, first as assistant-secretary and then as Secretary. Later he spent two years as treasurer and served time on the committee of the Navan de la Salle club.
At county board level he was a chairman of the Meath Juvenile Board and a member of the Finance and Ground Committee. In 1984 Colm recalled his playing days with Navan O’Mahonys in a club publication to mark centenary year. “We had no clubhouse or facilities like we have today in those times. Players, officials and supporters were all present in the showgrounds most nights to watch training, to talk about the last match and the changes to be made (if any) for the next match. When the training was over most of the lads went to the Seven Dwarfs on Market Square to argue out certain changes to the team for the next match, the referees we should or should not agree to play under and most important of all to have our cuppa or pinta and a good chat with and about the girlfriends.
“It was at the Seven Dwarf also that players were collected for matches. We used to travel in two old type black taxi cars (not minibuses). Each car could hold up to 10 people and many a time there was a good argument among some of our supporters for the odd spare seat that might be vacant. I suppose one could say the Seven Dwarfs was really our club house at that time.”
Colm was especially fond of the club’s first hurling title, the 1961 intermediate crown. “I remember well that night I handed out a bundle of hurling sticks to the football players for a short trial practice match, just to find out if we had any unknown dual players and no doubt we had. So we put together a hurling panel to play in the championship. We also had the assistance of many talented De La Salle minor hurling players who blended in most successfully with the O’Mahonys players.” Colm lined out at left half forward in the final and scored 0-2 in the 5-8 to 4-4 win over Warrenstown College.
In the autumn of 1961 Colm was appointed assistant general manager of Galway Co-op Livestock Mart. A keen golfer, Colm was captain of Athenry Golf Club in 1969.
He was introduced as a sub at half-time in the 1954 Leinster Minor football final as Meath trailed Dublin by 1-5 to 0-0. In the end the Meath team, captained by his club mate Frankie McEvoy, lost by 2-7 to 0-11. He was more successful seven years later in helping Meath to the Leinster Junior hurling crown. He appeared as a sub in both the 1-22 to 3-3 win over Wicklow in Croke Park and in the 3-5 to 3-3 All-Ireland semi-final win over Roscommon. The number 13 jersey proved unlucky for Colm in the ‘home’ final as Meath were pipped 4-9 to 5-3 by Kerry.
- O Mathuna An Uaimh

Des Taaffe RIP
There was widespread sadness following the death of Des Taaffe at St. Vincent’s hospital, Dublin. He was a member of the 1949 Meath All-Ireland winning team.
The late Mr. Taaffe was born in Mornington in 1927 and was part of a well-known GAA family. His brothers, Tom and John, both won Meath SFC medals with Skryne in 1940, while Des began his football career with St. Mary’s Bettystown.
He moved from St. Mary’s to Portrane in north Dublin, but returned to Meath and played with St Vincents, Ardcath along with such great names as Christo Hand, Mick Dunican, Jimmy Curran, Paddy Dunne, Kevin Mooney, Paddy Black and Ja Hand.
With St. Vincent’s he enjoyed one of his finest moments when he guided the Ardcath club to a Meath SFC title against Kells in 1955.
The deceased was a member of the first Meath Football team to win an All-Ireland title with the junior team of 1947 which defeated Kerry in the home final on the same day as Cavan defeated Kerry in the senior decider at the Polo Grounds, New York.
Meath’s victory over Kerry led to a ‘proper’ final against London and Meath defeated the exiles and clinched their first All-Ireland football title.
The late Mr Taaffe was selected regularly for the Meath senior panel from 1948 to 1952 and he added an All-Ireland SFC medal to his collection when the Royal County won their first Sam Maguire Cup in 1949.
He also played in the 1951 decider against Mayo and in ‘52 against Cavan but he finished on the losing side on both occasions.
Another highlight was when he helped Meath qualify for the 1951 National Football League Final proper following a tremendous home final victory over Mayo. The ‘Irish Independent’ reported as follows:
“Meath came back from apparent death. Two points down in the 28th minute of the second-half, but as they have so often done before, the men from the Royal County found inspiration from somewhere and the game turned with dramatic suddenness.’
Mattie McDonnell scored the best goal of his career and put Meath one point ahead. That was Meath’s victory blow, and when Des Taaffe gathered the kick-out and sent the ball soaring between the posts it was apparent that New York’s spirit was broken.’
One of the most striking aspects of the late Mr. Taaffe’s character was his hearty laugh and that remained with him to the very end. He was a life-long member of the Royal Meath Association, Dublin and always attended their functions.
Among the attendance at his funeral at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Templeogue were Government Ministers Noel Dempsey and Sile de Valera as well as members of the Meath team from his era and representatives from Meath Co Board.

Eddie Finnegan
The people of Kentstown and the Furze and the wider GAA community were shocked and saddened at the sudden and untimely death of Eddie Finnegan after a brief illness. For his entire life he had been a staunch supporter of our club and had an unrivalled love of our native sport.
The late Mr. Finnegan’s early playing days were spent with neighbouring Lougher in the late ‘50s as there was no adult team in the parish at that time, but he returned immediately to Seneschalstown when the team was re-formed and gave many years of service before injury curtailed his playing career.
He was a skilful, tough and uncompromising player who was described by opponents and colleagues as a footballer who was ‘as hard as nails’.
When his playing days were over he immediately turned to other clubs activities. For many years along with Tommy Collins and other officials he nurtured the club’s juvenile teams.
He had a great football brain and was also a selector of the adult teams between 1970 to 1995. He was one of the main links between the Furze senior championship winning sides of 1972 and ‘94 and held the unique record of being a selector on both occasions. He played a vital role in both victories, events which gave him great joy and satisfaction.
He was passionate about football and spent countless hours watching games and discussing them with is wife, Marie and a wide circle of friends and he never missed a Meath game. Once he had fulfilled his Sunday obligation at 8.30 in Kentstown church he was liable to head off anywhere in search of a game especially in the winter months.
He rarely missed a club meeting and was a great listener and his opinion carried great influence at the club. He was usually correct even if we did not always listen. He loved the customary game of cards after the meeting and could initiate a good debate if mistakes were made, but he was equally adept at being a peacemaker when required.
The late Mr Finnegan was very well known in farming circles and built up a very substantial business from the most meagre of beginnings through sheer determination and hard work.
He consistently produced crops to the highest standards and maintained his properties to an impeccably high standard. In business as in football Eddie played it straight up the middle and as one pundit put it at the removal ‘You always knew where you stood with him anyway’.
Eddie did not confine himself to the GAA and actively supported many activities in the parish in a quiet unpublicised way. He was a life-long member of the Pioneer Association and in an era of high alcohol and substance abuse, was a shining example of a fulfilled and happy life. He was a man with a great physical presence and that presence will be sadly missed whether it be at Mass in Kentstown, at the club in Seneschalstown, at the Ballroom of Romance or wherever people gather in the many places he frequented.
Eddie was above all a great family man and that presence will be missed most around the Finnegan kitchen table and in the farmyard and fields around Bellew. In a strange twist of fate Eddie’s mother, Rose, died on the very same day as her beloved son in what transpired to be a traumatic weekend for the Finnegan family. To Eddie’s wife Marie, his family and all the Finnegan clan we offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences.
On a beautiful Saturday evening in May, club members formed a guard of honour as his funeral cortege was brought to Kentstown church. The sun shone even brighter on Sunday when he was finally laid to rest in an occasion that will long remain etched in the memory.
The esteem in which he was held was reflected in the largest turn-out ever witnessed in Kentstown with many well-known figures from the world of sport, farming and politics turning up to pay their respects.
Ionad I measc Naomh na hEireann go raibh aige.
Seneschalstown GFC

Henry Callaghan RIP
The death of Henry Callaghan at the age of 55 has left a great gloom over a wide area and especially in his own locality.
As a former footballer and neighbour he had few equals. From a young age in Boyerstown National School, he was an above average footballer and as a juvenile he won two championships with Bohermeen.
Henry played minor and under-21 football with St. Ultan’s and in 1970, together with three of his brothers, he won the International Championship with Dunderry.
His brilliant displays at midfield during those years led to him being a member of Meath teams at both junior and senior levels in the league and championship. He also won an O’Byrne Cup medal.
Henry was held in very high regard by the players and officials of his club and was extremely popular with young and old alike.
His passing has left a great void for his family and many friends. His two sons are valued players on the present Dunderry teams.
The players and members of Dunderry GAA formed a guard of honour on the road leading to the graveyard and Henry’s friends and relatives carried his remains to his last resting place.
Ar dheis de go raibh a anam dilis.

Jim McGovern RIP
There was widespread grief following the death of Jim McGovern. With his passing, the Batterstown-Kilcloon community lost out of its greatest personalities and his untimely death left a genuine sense of sadness and loss throughout the parish.
From his young days in Cavan he had always been steeped in the GAA. He emigrated to New York as a young man, where he became very involved in the promotion of Gaelic football.
He played for the Carlow club there and was a very active committee member and club delegate for many years to the New York Board. On his return to Ireland in the early ‘70s, he recommenced his playing career with his native Corlagh. Being resident in Dublin at that time, Jim played at Rathgar Gaels.
He moved to Meath in 1980 where he played for the Batterstown football team and became one of the club’s most active members. A shrewd reader of the game, he enjoyed great successes as a mentor with Kilcloon-Batterstown under-age teams, culminating in the winning of three county minor football championships in the early ‘90s.
With the formation of Blackhall Gaels in 1995, he became a selector for the intermediate team. His vibrant personality endeared him to all and won him countless friends. He spoke his mind without fear or favour. Generous, kind and witty, everyone felt at ease in his company.
Work came easy to him. He was at his happiest when plying his trade as a builder, when watching a football game, and when discussing the match afterwards in the pub.
He bore his final illness with great patience and dignity. He was buried in the local cemetery and had the biggest funeral seen in Batterstown for a long time. The great number of the footballing fraternity and inter-county players, past and present, at the burial would have greatly pleased him.
He worked for three years at the construction of the Twin Towers in New York. In the wake of September 11 he was heard to remark he could not imagine New York without them. It’s now even more difficult to imagine the local community without the shinning tower that was Jim McGovern.
The late Mr McGovern has left a great legacy to his family, his football club and to the local community. To his wife Frances and their five children, we extend our condolences on their great loss.
Blackhall Gaels GF&HC

During the past year two loyal servants of Drumree and the GAA passed away.
Joe and the Rattigan family have been synonymous with Drumree GAA. Joe occupied every position within the club and was both its official and unofficial spokesperson. He promoted Drumree GAA at every opportunity and was instrumental in the setting up of Drumree's second football team and the hurling team's in Drumree and St. Martins. Joe ensured that Drumree's voice was heard at county board level and we are left with many stories of his submissions on our behalf, some of which made the national press due to their originality.
He was of course a lover of referees and could be heard the length and breath of the pitch giving the ref "encouragement". During the lean years Joe with his brother Tony trained Drumree teams and brought them to matches, picking up players on the way when he believed that numbers would be short ensuring that Drumree continued as a GAA club. The attendance at his funeral spoke volumes about the man and how his fellow Gaels held him in such high regard.
Paul Barry had just begun to get involved with Drumree prior to his sudden and untimely death. He was involved in coaching St. Martin's hurlers for a number of years and he saw it as a natural progression to become involved at adult level. At time of his death he was the PRO for our hurling section and manager of the second hurling team in Drumree. It was evident that Paul would have been a tremendous asset to this club and his loss is one, which we will not be able to measure.
Ar Dheis De go raibh a n-anamach a.
Drumree GAA

Joe Rattigan RIP
The St Martin’s and Drumree jersey as well as the racing colours of Drumree Racing Club adorned his coffin at his funeral at St. Martin’s Church, Culmullen as his relatives and wide circle of friends paid their final respects.
The late Mr. Rattigan (58) was laid to rest beside his former friends Kylo Allen and Gene Englishby, in Knockmark Cemetery.
“We have to get man of the match today. There’s no question about it.” The words of Joe Rattigan coming down from the Hogan Stand after Meath’s victory over Dublin in the 2001 Leinster football final.
The ‘we’ referred to was, of course, Drumree, the club and community which he was the centre of, and, Evan Kelly was duly named the man of the match later that night.
And Joe Rattigan would have been delighted to see the “Irish Independent” on Thursday, 27th December 2001, the morning of the news of his death after a battle with illness.
It featured John Cullinane. The Drumree player Sean Boylan introduced into the championship as a substitute a number of times last season was tipped to be one of Boylan’s ‘finds’ for 2002.
This would have been cut out, no doubt, and put up on the wall in Drumree Stores, alongside the exploits of Evan Kelly and Barry Geraghty and other local heroes whom Joe was equally proud of.
The Rattigan name is synonymous with Drumree and Meath football, with Joe’s brother Billy a member of the 1954 All-Ireland winning side. Alongside Billy and Tony, Joe was on the Drumree panel which won the 1969 Intermediate Championship, and he also served in many positions in the club, including as secretary and chairman.
He was also a stalwart of St Martin’s juvenile club and was on their first championship team in 1957, a period when the Dunshaughlin/Culmullen parish club was experiencing great success. Later, he was one of those tireless officials responsible for keeping St Martin’s in existence and for reviving hurling in the club.
Joe was a Drumree delegate to the Co Board and you could be guaranteed a lively debate on any issue when he was involved in the discussion. This earned him a respect which was reflected in the number of clubs which were represented at his home at Pelletstown where he reposed, and at his funeral, led by Co Board Chairman Fintan Ginnity.
In his book, Golden Wonders, Colum Cromwell recorded amusing moments at Meath Co. Board meetings. One of these followed Drumree’s failure to field for a game which was fixed for early on a Sunday when Meath were playing in the afternoon.
Joe was in difficulties with the chairman, but when asked why they didn’t field, he came up with a novel excuse.
“On account of the day that was in it,” he said.
“What day was that,” asked the Chairman.
“Mothers Day. The lads were all bringing their mothers out to Sunday lunch,” he commented.
Fr Joe McEvoy, CC, Dunshaughlin, said that Joe’s dedication to and love for Monica and his sons Mark, Ian and Conor was reflected in their care for him in his final illness. He was predeceased by a brother, Peter.

Joey Melia RIP
Members of the Trim GAA club were saddened at the passing of Joey Melia, one of the club’s oldest and most loyal members.
The deceased was one of the club’s greatest servants. He was particularly passionate about hurling and the length of his playing career has passed into legend. He started playing in the 1940s and continued into the ‘80s.
He was a member of the Trim team in the 1949-1960 period during which the club won eight senior hurling championships. If he had stopped at that stage he would still have been regarded as having had a long and successful playing career.
However, it was what he did in the long years after 1960 that set him apart. With the team in decline and players retiring, the late Mr. Melia was one of the few who kept the flag flying.
At that time there was a tradition in Trim of hurling in the green every Sunday morning. Numbers dwindled as the fortunes of the team plummeted, but he kept faith. He rarely missed those sessions. It was a tradition in Trim in those years that if you wanted a few pucks on a Sunday morning, regardless of the weather or the time of year, you would at least have one person to puck the ball back to you. It would be fair to say that in those years, without Joey Melia and a few of his companions, youngsters growing up in the town would be forgiven for believing that hurling had effectively disappeared.
Trim went down to the intermediate grade in 1969 and stayed there until 1973 when Kells were beaten in the final. He played his usual steady game at corner back. He was 46 at the time and marked the legendary Des Ferguson (who was no spring chicken either).
He continued playing junior hurling on a regular basis through the 1970s and into the early 80s. When Trim contested a junior final in 1986 against Dunderry, he togged out as the substitute goalie, he was 59 at the time.
His last appearance in a Trim jersey was in 1989 when Trim fielded three teams. The third team played in Kilskyre. Resources were very stretched and men lined out that day who hadn’t seen action for at least 10 years. The aggregate age of the full forward line was almost 150.
Unless somebody can correct me, we can assume that Joey played his last competition gave for the club at the age of 62. He continued the Sunday morning sessions into the last decade. If nobody else turned up he would puck the ball and run after it himself. He just loved to hurl.
No one took greater pleasure in the revival of fortunes that took place in the late 1980s than Joey. He never missed a match even in the worst day and took great delight in the fact that Trim won senior championships again. He assumed that the natural order had been restored.
It’s fair to say that Joey was no shrinking violet at matches. If you did not see him at a match you would certainly hear him. Referees were not spared a lash of his tongue when frees were awarded against Trim. He took these decisions as personal insults.
A number of the younger players who came in at the end of the current successful run would probably not even know of Joey’s hurling exploits, but all these players should say a silent prayer of thanks to Joey and people like him.
Without him it is entirely possible that neither they nor people of my vintage would ever have won a senior county medal. It is hard for anyone under the age of 30 to appreciate how close the hurling flame came to being extinguished in the late 1960s and early ‘70s. Joey was one of the few keepers of the flame. We are all indebted to him.
Finally, the club would wish to express its deepest and sincerest sympathies to Joey’s family on this very sad event. The thoughts of all club members and everyone associated with the club are with the Melia family at this time.
Frank McCann, Trim GAA Club

Mattie Smith RIP
The untimely death of Mattie Smith has robbed Gaeil Colmcille and the wider Kells community of a selfless worker, Meath of a dedicated supporter, but most of all his family of a devoted husband and father. His early passing will be greatly mourned and leaves a major void in both Gaeil Colmcille and the parish as a whole.
Mattie held many positions in the club down the years, most recently county board delegate and football selector. However, he didn’t need the lure of office in order to display his unwavering commitment to the club. He was deeply involved in fundraising, selling lotto tickets, park maintenance and any other unglamorous work that had to be done. He didn’t have much time for empty rhetoric - if there was work to be done his motto was to go and do it, not to talk about it.
When we think of Mattie we picture him stepping across the pitch, hands in pockets, to take up his position as the ‘foot of the post’ to act as umpire. It could be a league match in freezing February or a championship match in baking June, it didn’t matter, Mattie volunteered. We remember him at midweek league matches in the park on summer evenings, lying against the wall in his ‘farmer at a mart’ pose and sometimes ‘advising’ the referee on what course of action to take. We recall him making tea after training and availing of the opportunity to have the odd good natured dig at certain players. We see him almost ghosting into whatever pub the lotto was being held in, present his tickets, wait for the draw, collect tickets for the following week and trundle off home.
We can picture the VW Golf driving around the estate of Kells with the lawnmower peeping out of the trailer. We can recall him collecting his paper every morning and sometimes having a ‘discussion’ about football with whoever happened to be present.
We can see him getting off Larry Manning’s bus on dark and miserable Sunday evening proudly wearing his Meath jersey, after supporting the Royal in whatever part of the country they were playing. Mattie wasn’t a fair weather supporter. It didn’t matter if it was a November league match in Ballybofey or Tralee, or a championship match in Croke Park, if his health allowed him, Mattie was there.
The guards of honour and large attendance at the removal and funeral were testimony to Mattie’s standing in the community. To his wife, parents, children, grandchild, relatives and friends we extend our deepest sympathy.
May he sleep peacefully.
Gaeil Colmcille CLG

Paddy Cromwell RIP
The dark clouds rolled over the parish of Skryne on Saturday, 9th November, as the news spread of the sudden death of Paddy Cromwell in St. Josephs Hospital, Trim. He battled bravely with his illness, having suffered a stroke nine years ago, and although incapacitated, with the help of family and friends he continued his love affair with Skryne and Meath football.
Paddy was a quiet and unassuming man with an infectious laugh and a great sense of humour. He lived for his family, religion and friends. He had a great interest in sports, with an overriding passion for Gaelic football.
His football career spanned three decades, the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, and I can say without fear of contradiction, he was one of the best players to wear the blue and white of Skryne. His versatility was remarkable in that he played on every line on the team with distinction. He was an athletic two-footed player who played the game hard and fair from 1953 to 1976.
His prowess with the Blues soon had the county selectors looking for ‘Paddy of the long kick’ and he became one of the first, if not the first goalkeeper to kick out the ball.
He won his first medal when Skryne triumphed in the Juvenile Championship in 1954. He added another medal in ‘55 and an under 16 medal in ‘56. He continued his rise to fame with St. Finian’s College, Mullingar, winning a Leinster medal in 1960 and just failing to St. Jarlath’s, Tuam in the All-Ireland final. It was not long before Paddy gained his place on the Skryne senior team, making his debut in goals in a tournament final.
Paddy was famed for his long kick off the ground with the old style ball and came to the notice of the Meath selectors in 1963. He was between the posts in 1964 when his long kick-out was instrumental in bringing Meath its first Leinster title in 10 years.
Gaining a Meath SFC medal in 1965 with Skryne, Paddy added two more Leinsters in 1966 and 1967. He reached the ‘Holy Grail’ in 1967, winning his All-Ireland medal when Meath defeated Cork.
Australia
In 1968 he was a member of the first Irish GAA team to visit Australia, when Meath made the historic trip. Paddy finished his career with Skryne by winning a Div 2 medal in 1976. In the boardroom he had a distinguished career as an officer in most positions, spending a year as chairman and a number of years as secretary for Skryne. At Co. Board level, he held the position of Deputy Vice Chairman. He was a selector when Sean Boylan first came to power, continuing in that capacity when Meath won the Centenary Cup in 1984.
There were great celebrations last February when Paddy launched his book ‘Team Spirit’ with the help of Rehab Care in Dunboyne, where he attended twice a week. It was amazing how he wrote the book completely off the cuff without referral to sports pages or programmes.
One of the stories that brings a smile to my face is that of Paddy’s holly tree. He described it as one of his most treasured possessions and much to his consternation, had lost count of the number of people who had pulled up outside his gate each Christmas to clip merrily away.
This story came to mind as I passed the holly tree which still stands inside his gate and is currently weighed down with red berries. Paddy’s friend and advisor, Liz Carty at Rehab Care, who gave him so much encouragement with his writing, was deeply saddened by his untimely passing.
I am a member of Skryne GFC, not an active one I might add, but it gives me great pleasure to ask them to ‘take a bow’. The help and support they gave Paddy over the last nine years, although it was no more than he deserved, was never a chore. The rota organised to take Paddy home every Sunday, never once failed. It was a tremendous boost to Paddy and his family and kept him in touch with the day to day ongoings in the club.
It was a poignant occasion when we went to take Paddy home for the last time on Sunday, 10th November. Sean Smyth (Skryne), the rota organiser, echoed everyones thoughts when he said “This is the end of an era.”
The Rosary was recited by Sr. Camillus and the prayers by Very Rev. Andrew Farrell, PP Trim. The coffin was draped in the blue and white of Skryne. On arrival at Skryne Football Club a guard of honour was formed to take Paddy to his home, a few yards away, where Mass was celebrated by Fr. Noel Daly, Dalgan Park.
I attended this Mass and couldn’t help but notice the family photographs in happier times. Paddy’s collection of gold medals hung on their plinth in the corner. His All-Ireland medalists clock had stopped at five past twelve. It seemed to say it’s past midnight and now I am home.
Paddy’s removal on Sunday night saw one of the largest attendances ever in Skryne. The funeral cortege was escorted by his Skryne footballing colleagues and present day club members from his home to the church. On arrival at the church the Meath 1967 team, and indeed many players from other eras, formed a guard of honour in silent prayer for their former player and friend.
His funeral on Monday morning was a celebration of thanks for his life. The gifts in the offertory procession included the Skryne and Meath jerseys, his book’Team Spirit’ and an Irish Rail timetable representing his place of work for over 30 years. The beautiful music and singing held the congregation silent and spell bound all through the ceremony.
It was fitting that the final musical tribute to Paddy was his favourite Frank Sinatra song ‘My Way’. On both Sunday night and Monday Skryne Football Club provided refreshments for the large crowd in Matt Talbot Hall. This gave all the parishioners and friends the opportunity to meet Paddy’s family.
Paddy’s passing has created a void, not only in his family and community, but also in Skryne Football Club and throughout the plains of Meath. We all know Paddy will be there looking for his place on the great Skryne team in the sky, with names like Browne, Donnelly, Mooney, O’Toole, O’Brien, Johnson and Clarke.
Deepest sympathy is extended to Paddy’s wife Pat, his daughters Niamh, Fiona and Clare, sisters Maura and Dolores and brother Colum.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
David Carty, Skryne GFC

Paul Barry RIP
There was a great sadness over a wide area at the death of Paul Barry, 68 Ardlea, Dunshaughlin, at the age of 45 at the Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
A native of Moortown, Delvin, Co Westmeath, he was married to Breda and worked as an accountant at Hitachi Koki Imaging Solutions.
He attended St. Earnan’s National School, Delvin, St Mary’s CBS, Mullingar and Warrenstown Agricultural College.
After farming at home for some years, he studied accountancy and moved to work in McVitie’s in London. He returned to Dublin in 1988 to join Hitachi, where he worked for the past 14 years.
He had a distinguished underage hurling career with his native Delvin, and captained them to win the U14 championship in 1971. In the same year he won U16 and minor championship medals. He represented Westmeath at U16 and minor level and later served as secretary of the Delvin club.
Deceased had lived in Dunshaughlin for the past 10 years and during this time became involved with the St. Martin’s juvenile GAA club. For the past number of years, he became a driving force promoting hurling with great success at all ages from U11 to minor level. He was a serving member of St. Martin’s committee and a delegate to the juvenile hurling board of which he was acting PRO.
He was a selector for the Meath U14 hurling team last year, a position he also had on the U15 hurling team this year.
At adult level, he joined Drumree GAA club and was a selector of the junior hurling team for 2001 and 2002. Paul was hurling PRO for the club at his untimely death.
His involvement in the GAA in Meath earned him a respect that was reflected in the many guards of honour and the number of clubs represented at his removal, from McEntaggarts Funeral Home in Dunshaughlin to the Cathedral of Christ the King in Mullingar and the funeral to Ballyglass Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Breda; children, Michelle, Paul and Sinead; his mother, Mollie, Mooretown, Delvin; brother Harry, Mooretown, Delvin; sisters Assumpta Scally, Ballinlig, Moate, Co Westmeath, Mary Heffernan, Monilea, Mullingar and Eileen Barry, Mooretown, Delvin.

Paul Bennett RIP
The community of Kilmainhamwood, and in particular the GAA club, were shocked and deeply saddened following the tragic death of Paul Bennett, Cormeen at the very young age of 22 years.
The late Mr Bennett played at all under-age football grades from U12 to U21 with the club and minor football with Killough Gaels.
He was a member of the senior team and won an A FL Div 2 title with Kilmainhamwood and the A FL Div 1 crown only last year. He was a very reliable young player, always available and willing to help fundraising by his efforts in selling weekly lotto tickets.
He was also a good handball player and won a Leinster medal with his beloved Cormeen at juvenile level. He was very popular with everyone he came in contact with, both young and old and the huge gathering at his funeral Mass in Tierworker and his burial in Kilmainhamwood was evidence of this.
A guard of honour was formed by members of Kilmainhamwood GFC from the village to the cemetery. Again we express our sincere sympathy to his parents Aidan and Elizabeth, his sisters Ann and Aideen, his brother Bernard and his daughter Danielle.
Kilmainhamwood GFC

Richard (Dickser) Dunne (Ardcath)
Fondly known as Dickser and a legend in the Ardcath area and way beyond. Huge crowds attended both his removal and funeral. Dickser played at all levels for the Vincents and generally in goals. Indeed crowds swelled considerably for St Vincents games when one R. Dunne was chosen and it was not an unusual sight to see him fly out of his goals and go up the field ‘to sort things out’ at the other end.
But Dickser was also an exceptionally good keeper and had a number of trials for the county during the days of Father Tully. In later years he acted as a referee and officiated at several finals.

Dickser worked tirelessly for St. Vincents, moulding and inspiring the youth of the parish and was particularly attached to the juvenile section. He held many positions at club level including Chairman, Delegate to the County Board for an (almost) incredible 50 years, selector and manager of St. Vincents on a regular basis. His 3 sons played for the club and at all levels.
At County Board meetings he became a respected and influential figure and served on the Disciplinary Committee for a number of years. He was also a regular stewart at Pairc Tailteann.
Dickser Dunne was a legend not only in his native Ardcath but right throughout the Royal County. Stories doing the rounds are numerous. Like the time when for the Ardcath Festival he was part of an Over 40’s team in a fundraising game put together a more than useful team. In an effort to prevent a certain goal, Dickser dived headlong across the goalmouth only to bang his head off the post. They say he was the only 55 year old injured player brought home to his mother and wife.
His wife Ann and family were Dickser’s first love, St Vincents Ardcath his second and Meath GAA crossed the line as third. Dickser was only 64 when he suddenly departed and was at the time President of the club.
Quoting one well known Ardcath official “the referee blew half time last Saturday, October 26th, but we will all meet up again in the second half.”
Ar Dheis De go raibh a ainm.

Stephen Burke RIP
The football field is still marked and mown, the flags line its perimeter, the tricolour still flutters by the gate, the dressing room are ready and the Club Lotto continues to flourish.
On the surface little has changed. Yet the reality is very different. What Stephen Burke once did alone now requires the energy of groups and sub committees. Gradually club members have come to realise that the work Stephen did so unobtrusively is demanding, time consuming and never ending. It continues because everyone has taken inspiration from Stephen’s work and with each week that passes the loss that his sudden death on February represented becomes more and more obvious. For twenty years Stephen was the heart and soul of Dunshaughlin Football Club. For most people in the parish he represented the club, more so than the most prominent officers or best known players.
Stephen and his family moved to Meath from Tourmakeady in Mayo in the nineteen fifties when he was sixteen years of age. He always had an interest in Gaelic games. In the seventies and early eighties he was Mr. Handball in Dunshaughlin. The handball alley situated by the Garda Barracks was demolished in recent years but had fallen into disuse over the previous decade. In the early eighties it was a hive of activity, a game for young and old. Stephen’s main focus was on the juveniles and lads like Egin Jensen, Paul O Rourke, Jim Smith and David Gough went on to win All Ireland titles. Stephen travelled the length and breath of Ireland from small alleys in distant counties to headquarters in Croke Park, guiding young lads to county and All-Ireland championship titles.
He was also active as an official at county level, holding the posts of Secretary, PRO or Treasurer for most of the 80’s and was also a member of the National Development Committee. Stephen was unsurpassed as Secretary and PRO. Murray’s Public House was his office. This of course was when mobile phones were unheard of and even house phones were far from common.
He would spend some time in Murray’s on most evenings and you could be guaranteed that if the phone rang it was for Stephen, with news of tournaments, details of games and travel arrangements. When he was active in handball in Dunshaughlin and Meath underage handball was humming but when he moved on there was no one quite able to fill his shoes. But then no matter what he did Stephen’s shoes were always very difficult to fill.
From the mid eighties Stephen became synonymous with Dunshaughlin GAA Club. The pitch was his pride and joy. His car might be littered with programmes, all of last week’s newspapers and a selection of well-thumbed books. The club kitchen might be populated with half empty milk cartons, partly used packs of biscuits, newspaper crosswords and word puzzles but the pitch was always immaculate. Every blaze of grass was trimmed, every line was straight and every flag was in place. No matter how unimportant the game the goal nets were always hung up and the national flag was fluttering proudly by the gate. Due to his efforts the club was twice awarded the Grounds of the Year title by Meath County Board. Stephen himself was Meath Clubman of the Year in 1987 and was presented with his award by the then GAA President John Dowling. Co-incidentally both men died within a week of each other in February.
All games received the royal treatment from Stephen. To him an Under 12 game was just as important as a Senior Championship clash. He realised the game was important to those playing and whether it was a county fixture, an underage challenge or a Royal Gaels Ladies’ game everything was ship shape and ready. All it took was a phone call and once told Stephen never forgot.
Once he got the mobile there was no stopping him at all and you could be sure if the phone rang at 7.30 in the morning it was Stephen. This led to quite a few curses on many a Saturday morning when most people were looking forward to an uninterrupted lie in. By that time every morning Stephen would have completed his preliminary daily inspection of the clubhouse and grounds. In recent years Stephen took up duty as an umpire, first with Paddy O’Dwyer and then with Jim Smith. This was a role he took very seriously. He umpired two county Senior Finals for Paddy and with Jim Smith he once again travelled far and wide to inter county games. His proudest moment was acting as umpire in the Leinster Minor Final in Croke Park a couple of years ago.
When he arrived at a ground he hadn’t been to before had had a ritual that he always performed. He would take off and walk the field and measure its length and width. I don’t know if he ever wrote down the details but he could always give you the dimensions of any field he visited expert on the size of grounds. He could tell you the size of every pitch in Meath and many outside the county.
Of course many people knew Stephen as the Lotto Man. Every week without fail he sold between two and three hundred pounds worth of Lotto tickets. Stephen was shy and quiet by nature but he was a master salesman. Where most people might visit a pub once to make a few sales Stephen would call in twice. He would call in the early evening and again nearing closing time knowing that he would reach a different group of customers each time and even if the earlier clients were still there at closing time their purse strings might be a bit looser after a few pints. Even while in hospital he made at least one sale to the nursing staff while umpiring an Antrim v Armagh game in Casement Park, Belfast last year he even asked Sinn Fein President Garry Adams to buy a ticket!
Stephen left primary school when he was twelve or thirteen and probably didn’t have the benefit of second level education. Yet he was one of the most knowledgeable, intelligent and thoughtful people you could ever hope to meet. He had a phenomenal interest in and knowledge of sport, politics, current affairs and nature. He read widely, had a phenomenal memory and really enjoyed the nights out at quizzes.
He was never without his ring binder notebook where he recorded every single question and answer. He was particularly interested in sports, quizzes but whatever the topic he could function as a team on his own. Those of us who joined him on teams soon learned that his views were rarely wrong. One night in Simonstown we were congratulating ourselves on scoring seven out of ten in one of the rounds. After the answers were announced and Stephen ticked off the ones we had correct he turned to the rest of us and said ‘Ah, that’s great alright, sure we got seven right out of ten. And i knew eight of them!’ The rest of us had foolishly overruled him on one of the answers. After that we learned that when Stephen expressed an opinion on a question it wasn’t just an opinion it was usually a fact.
Stephen served the community in numerous other ways also. So much of what he did was done for the benefit of others. He regularly helped with church gate collections for a wide variety of charities, he decked the village in the green and gold of Meath and the black and amber of Dunshaughlin and he was thrilled to be so busy with that over the last few years. He was so proud to see the Senior Championship come to Dunshaughlin and the players he had watched since they first kicked a ball at primary school or with St Martins turn a dream into a reality. They appreciated his contribution to the club and to their success and at the club’s annual dinner a week before he died the most sustained and the most genuine round of applause was for Stephen.
Since his death everyone in the club has made a special effort to maintain the high standards set by Stephen. His commitment has inspired others to work harder than before and to give more generously of their time than before. The field and clubhouse developments now being planned will bring about huge changes in the club and hopefully Stephen will still be carrying out his dawn and dusk inspections from above to ensure that the work is up to standard. We have all missed his kind, gentle and generous personality. The club and its members offer our thanks to Stephen and our sympathy to his sisters Nora, Mary, Bridie, Nancy and Una, to his brother Sonny and his many nephews and nieces.
Fear iontach croíuil, cairdiúil, lách agus eirmiúil ba ea Stiofáin. Níl aon amhras nach mbeidh a leitheid inár measc arís agus guímis síochan ar a anam dílis.
Dunshaughlin GFC

Tony McCormack RIP
Navan O’Mahonys and Meath GAA mourned the passing of one of the greatest players ever to grace the fields of the county and the first man to lift the Keegan Cup, Tony McCormack.
The late Mr. McCormack was widely regarded as an exceptional player and his role of honour reflected his talent. He starred for Navan O’Mahonys during their first Meath SFC success in 1953 when he captained his side to a 3-7 to 2-4 victory over Trim.
He was partnered at midfield by Patsy Ratty and at the final whistle he became the first man to walk the steps of the stand at Pairc Tailteann to raise the famous Keegan Cup in front of a then record attendance of 5,635.
That breakthrough led to greater things for O’Mahonys and the Brews Hill side won five titles-in-a-row from 1957 to 1961. Tony finished his career with six Meath SFC medals to his name.
Keegan Cup glory wasn’t the only success he achieved as he won five Feis Cup medals as well as an IHC. His son, Barry was also a star for Navan O’Mahonys in the 1970s and his grandson, Brian was an All-Ireland winner with St. Patrick’s CS., Navan and is a regular on the Walterstown senior side.
When his playing days were over, Tony refused to drift away from football and remained very active in the game. He served as vice-chairman of Navan O’Mahonys and he was also a member of their executive and a selector on several of the club’s teams.
He also applied his vast knowledge of football to the benefit of the Meath U21 team in 1979 and ‘80, but football wasn’t his only sporting interest.
He had a major influence on athletics in Navan and all his children were successful in there chosen events which made him very proud. He was also a keen golfer, took great pride in his family and will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife Ita, sons Robert, Barry and Martin, daughters Elaine, Maria and Fiona and other relatives to whom we extend our deepest sympathies.