Westmeath Obituaries 2002/2003

Dinny Breen (Rochfortbridge)
Until the time of his death at the age of 96, Dinny Breen was the only surviving member of the Westmeath All-Ireland junior football winning team of 1929.
Of Kerry and Galway parentage, Dinny was born in Loughrea, Co. Galway, but grew up in Rochfortbridge. He quickly developed an interest in football and won a Midland Colleges medal during his days at St. Mary’s CBS, Mullingar.
Dinny was still in his teens when he helped the Rochfortbridge Warriors to victory over Kilbeggan in the 1923 senior championship final. Two years later, he picked up a second senior championship medal when the Warriors defeated the Athlone Army in the county decider.
After finishing school, Breen had a brief spell in the army before joining the Gardai. He was stationed in Dublin for a number of years after qualifying and could no longer give the necessary commitment to the Warriors. Instead, he joined the Garda club and went on to win four Dublin senior championship medals with them. He later played for Parnells, Ardagh (Longford) and Newbridge Sarsfields (Kildare) before completing his club career with Maynooth, where he lived for over 60 years. Dinny first played for the Westmeath juniors in 1928. By the All-Ireland winning year of 1929, he had already established himself as an automatic choice at midfield, usually partnered by either Mick Carey of Dalystown or Kildare native Jimmy Byrne.
Despite the strength of football in Rochfortbridge during those days, Dinny was the only player from the village to feature in the All-Ireland junior triumph. He was joined on the team by players such as Jack Dunican (Rosemount), Joe Guilfoyle, John Coughlan, Frank McGuinness and Tom Seery (Kilbeggan), Paddy ‘Steelbar’ Bracken, Shea Bracken and Andy Dunne (Kinnegad) and

Jim Moffat of Milltown.
Westmeath entered the Leinster senior championship in 1930 and, backboned by the 1929 junior team, qualified for their first Leinster senior final in 1931. Dinny was an important member of the senior set-up by then and played a starring role in Westmeath’s first round victory over Dublin at Ballyduff Park in Tullamore. “I got a great write-up in one of the Dublin papers after that game,” he later recalled. “The ironic thing about it was that I had been playing my club football with Parnells at the time. That was a very proud moment for me.”
Westmeath went on to meet Kildare in the Leinster final at Croke Park, but succumbed to defeat on a 1-6 to 2-9 scoreline. But it was no disgrace losing to the Lilywhites as they had been the most powerful force in Leinster during that era. In 1935, Dinny achieved one of his greatest honours when he won a Railway Cup medal with Leinster. He didn’t play in the final against Munster, but had featured in the semi-final win over Connacht at the newly opened Cusack Park in Mullingar.
Seosamh O Maoileoin, football board treasurer, delivered a fitting and moving oration at his funeral in Meedin.

Tod Nugent (Clonkill)
Tod was one of the county’s most respected hurling men and his passing little more than a week after that of another GAA legend, Dinny Breen, marked the end of an era for Westmeath GAA in many respects. In his mid-nineties, Nugent was the only surviving link with the Westmeath team which brought the county its first and only All-Ireland junior hurling title in 1936, lining out at right half back in the final against Waterford.
En route to capturing the All-Ireland crown, Westmeath chalked up a magnificent 10 straight wins, four in the Leinster League and six in the junior championship. That success enabled Westmeath to compete in the Leinster senior championship of 1937. The midlanders made an immediate impact, seeing off the challenges of Meath, Offaly and Laois to qualify for a Leinster final showdown with champions Kilkenny at Portlaoise.
With 12 of the 1936 crew on board, Westmeath looked as though they would create a major upset when they led going into the final quarter. But two late goals gave the Cats a fortunate 5-3 to 2-4 victory. It was the closest Westmeath would ever come to annexing a Leinster championship. “That was a lost opportunity,” Tod later recalled.
“After winning the junior All-Ireland, we had built up a lot of momentum and we really should have beaten Kilkenny in 1937. Kilkenny had great players like Paddy Larkin and Lory Meagher, but the likes of Colm Boland, Jack Skehal, Frank Monaghan and Frank White were capable of holding their own against them.
“Losing the 1937 Leinster final was a turning point for Westmeath because the team started to break up after that. To this day, I don’t think we ever managed to fulfil our potential,” he regretted. Tod’s name was synonymous with Clonkill, the club he was so passionate about. When the club went out of existence, Tod and his future brother-in-law, the late Mick Scally, succeeding in reviving it. Within a year of its reformation in 1927, Clonkill were crowned county junior champions.
The Loughegar club’s meteoric rise continued in 1929 when they defeated Ringtown to claim their first senior championship title. They retained the championship in 1930, ‘31 and ‘32, and achieved a three-in-a-row of title wins between ‘39 and ‘41. Tod figured in all seven successes.
Having played his first game for Westmeath in 1929, Tod retired from hurling in 1942. His last competitive game was the 1942 senior championship final which Clonkill lost to Ringtown. Until the time of his death, Tod rarely missed a Clonkill match and was thrilled when his beloved club regained the Examiner Cup in 2001, ending Lough Lene Gaels’ bid for a record-equalling four-in-a-row of titles in the process. Earlier that year, he received the highest accolade when he was selected at midfield on the Westmeath Topic Hurling Team of the Millennium.
In paying tribute to Tod, Westmeath county board chairman Seamus Whelan said: “Tod Nugent has left Clonkill and Westmeath a great hurling legacy and his memory will always be an inspiration to us.”

Ben Kelly (St. Oliver Plunkett’s)
The death of St. Oliver Plunkett’s club chairman and Westmeath minor board secretary Ben Kelly at the age of just 33 brought GAA activities in the county to a standstill last May.
Despite suffering from a serious illness, Ben’s death still came as a shock to the many people who knew him. He was a very committed gael and was also an excellent administrator. He became chairman of St. Oliver Plunkett’s in 1999, having served in various officerships prior to then. Ben had huge ambitions for the Mullingar hurling club and his dream was to lead them to a Leinster club championship title some day. One of his proudest moments came in November 2001 when his beloved Plunkett’s beat Emeralds of Kilkenny to win the Leinster junior club title at their home ground of Robinstown. The facilities which Plunkett’s have developed at Robinstown are due in no small part to Ben’s efforts over the years.
Ben was looking forward with great anticipation to the hosting in Westmeath, Meath and Kildare of the national Feile na nGael competition in 2003 and 2004. Following the retirement of Adrian Murray as county minor board secretary at the end of 2000, Ben was unanimously elected to the post. It was a position that he took to with the same effort as he had shown to Plunkett’s over the years and, in his short time as secretary, he had created his own style and served the clubs of the county and the board very capably indeed.
The huge turnout of representatives of Westmeath clubs at both his removal and funeral was a testament to the high regard with which Ben was held throughout the county. Members of St. Oliver Plunkett’s fittingly formed a guard of honour for their chairman at his removal and following the funeral Mass. At his funeral, county chairman Seamus Whelan paid a moving tribute to Ben at his graveside in Walshestown Cemetery, while the National flag was flown at half-mast at county headquarters, Cusack Park.

Susan Dugdale (Brownstown)
Born on the 13th December, 1898, Susan’s death last May marked the passing of one of the country’s oldest citizens. Throughout her 104 years, she took a keen interest in all things Irish, particularly Irish dancing and music. But Susan also took a great interest in the GAA and witnessed the formation of Brownstown hurling club in 1926. Subsequently, she witnessed her sons, grandsons and great-grandsons play for the Archerstown-based club.

Albert Colgan (St. Brigid’s)
Albert was regarded as one of the greats of St. Brigid’s hurling, having been involved since the club’s foundation in the 1950s. An outstanding full back, he won a junior championship medal in 1964 and was also a key member of the great St. Brigid’s team which won a hat-trick of senior championships in the early 1970s. Albert also played senior hurling for Westmeath and later gave tremendous service to St. Brigid’s as an administrator which included a term as club chairman.

Jim Fox (St. Brigid’s)
A former St. Brigid’s hurler, Jim played with the club during the late 1950s and 1960s, and was a member of the junior championship and league winning team of 1964.

Fr Mattie Coleman (Mullingar)
A former Parish Priest of Castletown-Geoghegan, Fr Mattie was an outstanding footballer in his younger years. He had the rare distinction of representing Westmeath in both the Leinster minor and senior football championships on the same day, June 23, 1935.
Not only that, he ended up as Westmeath’s top scorer in both games. Indeed, that was his fourth year to play with the county minors. Defeat proved to Westmeath’s lot in both games, with Fr Mattie notching five points in the underage clash with the subsequent All-Ireland finalists Louth, and four points in the senior game against Meath. Fr Mattie also had the distinction of representing his province at senior colleges level. Undoubtedly, further honours would have followed but for a requirement which precluded priests from playing Gaelic games for a number of years.
After his playing career had ended, Fr Mattie acted as a trainer and selector to the Westmeath senior football team.

Tommy Gaffney (Ringtown)
Tommy played senior hurling for Ringtown before emigrating to the Shetland Islands, Scotland where he lived up until the time of his death. Despite being abroad for so long, his interest in the fortunes of Ringtown never waned. The fact that he was laid to rest in a Ringtown jersey bore testimony to the love and pride Tommy had for the Whitehall-based club.

Pat Shaw (Brownstown)
Pat’s involvement with Brownstown can be traced back to 1935 when he was a member of the club’s first junior championship winning team. A talented half back who was noted for his ground hurling skills, Pat went on to win a total of five senior championship medals with Brownstown (1938, ‘43, ‘46, ‘47 and ‘48) along with numerous Feis Cup and League honours.
Following his playing career, Pat remained an avid supporter of the club through good and bad times. When Brownstown regained the senior hurling crown after a long absence in 1977, three of Pat’s sons - Pat jnr, Christy and Richie - figured in the success. Indeed, Richie captained the team. The ‘77 success heralded a new era of Browstown dominance and wherever or whenever they played, Pat was there to cheer them on. He took great pride whenever his sons Jimmy, Nicky, Pat, Christy, Richie or Johnny pulled on the famed blue jersey.
Equal was his pride to see his daughters Mary and Dolores win junior camogie honours with Brownstown in the late 1980s. Pat has a vast knowledge of hurling and liked nothing better than to recall matches involving Brownstown going back to the club’s formation in 1926.
He particularly enjoyed visits from his friend and only other surviving member of the 1935 junior winning team, Tom Ryan.

Connie McCormack (Castlepollard)
A well-known publican in Castlepollard, Connie was an avid follower of Gaelic games and was passionately involved with the local hurling club. McCormack’s bar was the hurling meeting place in the town and it was here that all club meetings were held prior to the GAA complex being built. Connie was also a generous sponsor of the club down the years.

Gerry Noone (Brownstown and St. Paul’s)
Gerry’s tragic death last November came as a great shock to people in the Archerstown and Clonmellon areas. He played hurling with Brownstown at underage level and continued to have a keen interest in the affairs of the club. He also played football for St. Paul’s at both juvenile and adult level. His three sons Andrew, Darren and Adrian all play underage for Brownstown and St. Paul’s at present.

Ned Tuite (Milltown)
Ned was a keen GAA supporter and for many years and acted as gateman for the Milltown club. Ned fulfilled this role when they played in Colonel Bellingham’s field in Glencara, and in later years at Ballyglass on the Milltown Road. He also took a great interest in the fortunes of Ballynacargy and Westmeath, and rejoiced in their successes over the years.

John Dunne (Kinnegad)
John represented both St. Finian’s and Westmeath with distinction during a noted playing career. He played alongside his brother Paddy and many other great players down the years. Although living away from Kinnegad, he remained in touch with friends from school and footballing days, many of whom were in attendance at his funeral Mass in Kinnegad.
Kevin Flaherty (Kilbeggan Shamrocks)
Kevin, who had been unwell for some time, was deeply involved with the Kilbeggan club a few years ago. A great lover of sport, he was also the driving force behind the local soccer club for a number of years.

Tommy Byrne (Mullingar)
A well-known and popular personality in Mullingar, Tommy was a jockey in Britain in his younger days. He was a brother of Westmeath and Mullingar Shamrocks team masseur Eddie ‘Killer’ Byrne.

Ciaran Gannon (Ballinagore)
Ciaran’s tragic death at the age of just 23 last July numbed the local community into almost total shock. While his real passion in life was motorcycling, he played football with Ballinagore at both underage and junior level.

Ger Leech (Kinnegad)
An accomplished full back with Kinnegad and later St. Finian’s (an amalgamation of Kinnegad and Coralstown), Ger’s football career spanned from 1954 to ‘71. Having suffered the disappointment of losing three senior championship finals in 1955, ‘56 and ‘60, he finally got his hands on a senior medal in 1967 when St. Finian’s defeated St. Mary’s, Rochfortbridge in the championship decider. He also won intermediate championship medals in 1960 and ‘70.
Ger represented his county on a number of occasions, playing alongside such greats as Mick Carley, Ned ‘Dinger’ Bruer and Brian Kavanagh. When playing with Kinnegad, he was usually flanked in the full back line by Andy Dunne and Eamonn Monaghan. After his playing days, he held a number of positions on the club committee, including chairman. He also trained the team on a number of occasions.
A minute’s silence was observed in his memory before the National Football League game between Westmeath and Leitrim at Cusack Park in February.

Paddy Maxwell (Ringtown)
Paddy was one of Westmeath’s great hurling men, having served both his club and county with pride and distinction over the best part of 70 years. Maxwell first picked up the hurl during his days at Whitehall National School and his talent was evident from an early age. He made his senior championship debut as a goalkeeper against Brownstown in 1945 and went on to play in that year’s county final defeat to the Army. Paddy was also on the losing side when Delvin came out on top in the 1949 championship decider.
After helping the club to win two league titles and a Feis Cup in 1948 and ‘49, Paddy was dismayed when Ringtown was forced to disband in 1956 due to emigration. He and a number of his colleagues subsequently transferred to St. Vincent’s (Crookedwood), with whom they enjoyed success at junior and intermediate level. It was at around this time that Paddy caught the eye of the county selectors and over a 15-year period, he was one of the mainstays of what was a strong Westmeath team.
His finest hour in the maroon and white jersey came in 1955 when Westmeath ran a famous Wexford side close in the Leinster semi-final. Paddy is credited with outplaying Ned Wheeler, one of Wexford’s most prominent hurlers at the time.
He ended his inter-county career on a high by winning a Leinster junior championship medal in 1963. He played out the remainder of his club hurling career with Collinstown. Shortly after hanging up his boots, Paddy took up refereeing and was also appointed as a selector to the Westmeath senior team. In the 1970s, a new batch of talented Ringtown hurlers emerged and Paddy oversaw their junior and under 21 championship successes in 1974 and ‘77 respectively. The same group of players went on to win a senior championship in 1980, much to Paddy’s delight.
Paddy was reappointed a county selector in the 1980s and was involved when Westmeath secured promotion to Division 1 of the National League in 1985/86. In more recent years, Paddy immersed himself in fundraising activities for Ringtown and was actually club treasurer at the time of his death.
In 1995, his club colleagues organised a “This is Your Life” style celebration in his honour. The event was attended by hurling greats such as Theo English, Ned Wheeler and John Fenton - all players Paddy had greatly admired over the years.
Just before his passing, members of the Ringtown intermediate championship winning team visited him with the cup they had won after a replay against Crookedwood.

Johnnie Cummins (Athlone)
Johnnie was a stalwart of the Athlone club, giving tremendous service for close on half a century. His great endeavours in helping to run the club’s weekly bingo sessions and lotto draws was a huge factor in Athlone’s success down the years. When pitches had to be mowed and marked, when nets had to be put up, when gates had to be manned - Johnnie was also available to offer his assistance.
Johnnie was also a prominent member of the executive committee for many years, as was his son Johnnie jnr, who held the positions of chairman and secretary.
Johnnie’s late brother Larry was an intergal member of the great Roscommon team which won back-to-back All-Ireland senior football titles in 1943 and ‘44.

Frank McCormack (Mullingar)
A native of Mullingar, Frank was a noted footballer in his younger years, winning a Leinster minor championship medal with Offaly. He also played with the Gunnadóiri Army team, and also wore the Westmeath jersey.

Phil Arking (Ringtown)
Like so many of his generation, Phil was forced to emigrate to England at a young age where he remained until recent years. Despite this, he remained a passionate Ringtown supporter. When the Ringtown club organised a trip to London in 1981, Phil was deeply involved in the reception committee which provided warm hospitality to their visitors.

Jack Gaffney (Castlepollard)
Though he never hurled himself, Jack was one of Castlepollard’s most loyal supporters, rarely missing a match from under 12 up to senior. Weekend after weekend, year after year, he was available to load up the car with young hurlers and head for a match.
For many years, his wife Maureen washed the Castlepollard jerseys while his two sons, Pat and Bruno, were selectors for the senior and junior teams respectively last year.

Jack Arthur (St. Mary’s)
A famous musician, Jack played with St. Mary’s, Rochfortbridge on a number of occasions and his claim to fame on the field was to have marked the great Athlone player Mick Scanlon.

Kit Kelly (Loughnavalley)
Kit was a member of the Loughnavalley team that won the junior championship in 1950 and was presented with a medal celebrating the 50th anniversary of that great win in January 2001.
Joe Nicholson (Longford)
A native of Longford, Joe had successful stints as trainer of both St. Joseph’s and Loughnavalley. Along with John Rafferty, he trained the St. Joseph’s junior team on three separate occasions during the 1990s. His last active role in management was two years ago when he oversaw a dramatic improvement in Loughnavalley’s fortunes, guiding them to an historic Junior Cup success.

Phillip Shaffrey (Milltown)
Philip was life president of Milltown, becoming the first person to be honoured by the club in that capacity in the early 1970s.
Born in 1912, he had played with both Moyvore and Streamstown before joining Milltown in 1935. The following year, he captained the club to junior league and championship honours. When Milltown defeated Coralstown to capture their first senior championship in 1938, he played a starring role at midfield. Phillip was also an intergal member of the Milltown team which swept to victory in the senior championship, league and League Cup in 1942. Phillip wore the county colours for over a decade, making his debut in 1932. He was a member of the Westmeath team which won the Leinster junior championship in 1940, but lost to Roscommon in the All-Ireland final.
Phillip’s love of the game knew no bounds and on one occasion, he cycled from his grandfather’s house outside Navan to Streamstown to play in a league semi-final. He ended his playing career in 1947 with Moyvore after helping the club he has started out with to an intermediate league title.

Benny Tuite (Cullion)
Benny, who died tragically at the age of 33, played underage hurling with Cullion for a number of years. He was a nephew of Mrs Helen Lynch whose husband Kevin is treasurer of the Westmeath hurling board.

Tony Cosgrove (Loughnavalley)
A native of Mayo, Tony played with Loughnavalley in the early 1980s and one of his proudest moments was the club’s Johnny Martin Cup success in 1983. It’s was the club’s first major success since the junior championship win of 1950.

Dan Muldoon (Caulry)
Dan was one of Caulry’s greatest supporters and was vice-president of the Mount Temple club at the time of his death.

Christy Murtagh (The Downs)
Christy played a prominent role in the progress of The Downs club in the 1950s and early 1960s, both as a player and a committee member. On the playing field, he was a talented goalkeeper, but injury cut short his career. He also served a term as club chairman.
Having worked away from the area for a number of years, Christy returned to live in Loughegar where he became immersed in the affairs of Clonkill. In the 1990s when Clonkill had no pitch of their own, he came up with the idea of buying a house and then raffling it. Under Christy’s leadership, this project was a major success, the results of which are to be seen at Loughegar today. His sons have all played for The Downs and Clonkill, with Brendan being an integral member of the Westmeath senior hurling team at present.
A minute’s silence was observed in Christy’s memory before the Westmeath v Antrim National Hurling League game at Cusack Park on March 23 last.

Nan Clarke (Castletown-Geoghegan)
Nan was a great supporter of Castletown-Geoghegan with her passion for the game of hurling being handed down to all her family.
Her late husband Joe was one of the leading lights of Castletown-Geoghegan hurling and many club meetings were held in their home.

John Flynn (Mullingar)
John was the dedicated groundsman at Cusack Park for many years and a minute’s silence was observed in his memory before the Garrycastle v Portlaoise Leinster club football championship match at the Mullingar venue last October.

Jim McCormack (Maryland)
Jim was a staunch Maryland clubman and president of the Drumraney club.

Jimmy Weir (Raharney)
Jimmy was an all-round sportsman, but he had a particular love for hurling. He played with Raharney for many years, during which time he garnered senior championship medals and many other honours. He served as club chairman for a period and was also a founder-member of the Raharney camogie club. His sons John and Anthony are deeply involved in the affairs of Raharney at present.

Paddy Fanning (Ringtown)
An honourary life president of the club, Paddy was one of Ringtown’s most loyal and consistent supporters. A passionate hurling man, he was proud to see his sons Christy, Kieran (RIP) and Padraic wear the Ringtown jersey. Both Christy and Padraic played key roles in the club’s intermediate championship success last November.

Paddy McCallon (Garrycastle)
A native of Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone, Paddy was Garrycastle club president up until the time of his death. Previous to that, he had held the position of vice-president. Paddy spent most of his life in Athlone and took a keen interest in Garrycastle from the time of the club’s formation. He took great delight and satisfaction from the club’s achievements and was proud to be president over the past two years when senior championship titles were put back-to-back.

Jack McCormack (St. Malachy’s)
A passionate St. Malachy’s clubman, Jack served the positions of chairman and assistant secretary with distinction for more than 20 years. He also represented the club at county board meetings. Before St. Malachy’s was founded, Jack had been deeply involved in GAA activities in the Dysart area.

Edward McCauley (Riverstown)
A native of Dungloe, Co. Donegal, Edward spent most of his working life in Westmeath. While based in Killucan as a Department of Agriculture official, he played a lot of handball and football, and was a member of the local Riverstown Emmets team which won the intermediate championship in 1947. In 1957, Edward moved to Raheen, Moyvoughley with his family. His son Michael is one of Westmeath’s most loyal supporters, rarely missing a game involving the county from under 16 upwards.

Kevin Smyth (Castlepollard)
Hailing from a family stepped in GAA, Kevin is best remembered for his trojan work in the 1980s with the late Moss Finglas in the promotion of underage hurling in Castlepollard. Most of the current Castlepollard senior team members will recall with fondness the underage trips to Waterford and Kilkenny which were organised by Kevin. Kevin acted as treasurer of the underage committee for a number of years and was especially proud of his own family. Martin played under 14 and under 16 with ‘Pollard and also represented the county in both grades. Kevin was another Castlepollard underage player of note. Barry won medals at every level with Castlepollard and was also a regular on the county senior team a few years ago. Recently, he played for New York against Derry in the Ulster hurling championship.
Adrian is currently on the Castlepollard senior team and is regarded as one of the most promising hurlers at the club. He too has represented his club and county at all levels. Kevin’s daughters Marie and Anita also garnered camogie medals with Castlepollard in the late 1980s. His grandson Shane Fagan was a member of the ‘Pollard team which won the under 12 championship last year.

Sean Egan (Kilbeggan)
Sean was born into a family stepped in GAA tradition, his father John Joe being a hurler with the old Kilbeg club and also with the county side. A superb administrator, Sean was elected chairman of the Kilbeggan club in the late 1970s and presided over a dedicated committee which undertook the task of upgrading the club’s facilities. In 1978, he negotiated a valuable sponsorship deal with Powerscreen and this support from Powerscreen continues to the present day.
Sean then became club secretary and in 1989, he helped to lay the foundations of a successful partnership between Kilbeggan GAA and FAS. The evidence of the joint venture can be seen at the club grounds today. Sean later acted as club treasurer and at the time of his death, was a trustee of Kilbeggan Shamrocks.

Paul Barry (Delvin and Drumree)
Paul, who was just 45, had a distinguished underage hurling career with his native Delvin and captained them to win a county under 14 championship in 1971. In the same year, he also won under 16 and minor championship medals.
He represented Westmeath at under 16 and minor level and later served as secretary of the Delvin club. Paul moved to Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath about 10 years ago after taking up employment with Hitachi in Dublin. He became involved with the St. Martin’s juvenile club, promoting hurling with great success from under 11 to minor level. In recent years, he served as a selector for the Meath under 14 and under 15 hurling teams. At adult level, he was a valued member of the Drumree 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.

Tommy Gaffey (Mullingar)
A native of Belmont, Co. Offaly, Tommy worked as a printer with Topic Newspapers in Mullingar for 25 years. He took a great interest in GAA and was a keen follower of the Westmeath and Offaly football teams.