Westmeath Obituaries 2003/2004

Una Reilly
(Lough Lene Gaels)
Una was an avid supporter of both the Lough Lene Gaels hurling and camogie teams. Her sons Pat and Gerry played for Lough Lene Gaels at all levels and also represented Westmeath. Una’s daughters Pauline and Laura have also given great service to the camogie team in a playing capacity, with the latter captaining the Gaels to a senior ‘B’ championship success in 1998.
When Lough Lene Gaels competed in the national Feile na nGael finals in Tipperary in 1991, Una was among those who travelled from Collinstown to support the team.
Both the Lough Lene Gaels hurling and camogie clubs formed a guard of honour at Una’s funeral last July.

Pat Joe Boylan (Castlepollard)
A great Castlepollard clubman, Pat Joe had been ill for some time before his passing last November. His tremendous love for hurling was reflected in the fact that he had a long involvement in coaching underage teams and it gave him great satisfaction to see youngsters, both boys and girls, learning the skills of the game.
Along with Moss Finglas, Peter Reilly and Kevin Smyth, Pat Joe was responsible for revamping the Street Leagues in the early 1980s and in doing so, helped ‘Pollard to win several underage county titles as well as three senior championships.
The deceased had a great way with the young hurlers and many of the current Castlepollard senior team would readily acknowledge that he had a huge bearing on their careers.
His roles as chairman, vice-chairman and treasurer during the 1980s bore testimony to the hard work that Pat Joe put into the underage system in ‘Pollard. His wife Josie was always there to wash jerseys and make sandwiches for young hurlers after games.
Pat Joe was immensely proud when his son James (affectionately known as the ‘Boiler’) wore the blue and gold when ‘Pollard won senior championships in 1995 and ‘97. Another proud moment for Pat Joe was when his eldest grandson Stephen won an under 12 championship medal in 2002.
Pat Joe’s second son Patrick represented ‘Pollard at underage level, while his daughter Margretta was a stalwart of the Castlepollard camogie club for many years.

Agnes Smyth (Ringtown)
Agnes, who lived to the remarkable age of 102, served as principal of Whitehall National School for over 40 years, during which she actively promoted the game of hurling.
A native of Walshestown, Agnes taught in the old Faughalstown school for 30 years before she and her pupils moved to the newly-built Whitehall school in 1958.

Joe Kilcoyne (Ringtown)
Joe’s death on February 1 caused deep sadness and regret in Ringtown. Since moving to Kiltoom from his native Louisbourg, Co. Mayo in the 1950s, Joe became a much respected and popular figure.
With the re-emergence of hurling in Ringtown, the Kilcoyne name became famous throughout the county and beyond. Remarkably, all five sons of Joe and Anne Kilcoyne wore the Westmeath jersey, and between them, displayed prowess on the hurling fields over two decades.
The five brothers - Michael, Padraig, James, David and Sean - all played senior hurling for Westmeath with the former also representing the county in senior football. David, of course, has the distinction of being Westmeath’s only hurling All-Star.
Joe took a keen interest in the game and was a loyal supporter of both Ringtown and Westmeath.Seamus Collins (Athboy)
Seamus, who passed away in March, was a brother of Westmeath county secretary and senior football team selector Paddy Collins. A minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect before the Westmeath v Dublin National Football League game at Cusack Park on March 7.

Paddy Quinn (Kilbeggan)
A native of Kilbeg, Paddy playing hurling and football for Kilbeggan and Streamstown during the 1950s and 1960s. He had a particular love for hurling and was a member of the Kilbeggan team which won a junior championship in 1959.
His passion for Gaelic games was passed down to his sons PJ and Tom, who are both deeply involved with the Westmeath club in New York, while another son, Johnny, has trained Kilbeggan underage teams and was involved in the management of the Loughnavalley junior side last year.

Matt Fagan (Castlepollard)
Matt was a member of a prominent Castlepollard hurling family, with his brother Joseph having won senior championship medals with the club in the 1960s. Three of Matt’s nephews, Fergal, Gerard and John, were members of the Clonkill team which lost to ‘Pollard in last year’s county final.
A minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect to the deceased before the two clubs met in the Feis Cup semi-final in October.
George Bouabbse (St. Malachy’s)
George was a great supporter of both the St. Malachy’s and Castletown-Geoghegan clubs. His sons Edward, Andre, Adam and Alan are actively involved in both clubs as players and officials.

Tommy O’Neill (Clonkill)
Tommy was one of Clonkill’s most committed clubmen, with his interest in the club spanning from his playing days right up to the time of his death. He took a keen interest in coaching and held the post of youth officer for a number of years.
In more recent times, he spent much of his time repairing, rebuilding and patching hurley sticks for players. He saved a lot of money for Clonkill with his recycling process in which he took great pride.
At the time of his death, Tommy was a member of Clonkill’s finance committee which was set up to raise funds for the club’s building project.

Andrew Smyth (Rickardstown)
A native of Kilpatrick, Collinstown, Andrew played hurling for Westmeath and Rickardstown in the 1940s and early 1950s. The highlight of his playing career came in 1954 when he won a senior championship medal with Rickardstown, who defeated neighbours Collinstown after a replay.
Shortly after that success, Andrew emigrated to the UK and settled in Luton where he was employed in a Vauxhall Motors factory. He continued to reside in Luton until the time of his death last June.

Edward Newman (Bunbrosna)
In his earlier years, Edward was deeply involved in the affairs of Bunbrosna and the tradition has continued on with his son Eddie (Jnr) being a well-known GAA figure throughout the county. Edward’s grandsons Finian and Conor won Leinster minor championship medals in 2000 and were both members of this year’s county under 21 panel. In fact, Finian was due to captain the team until he sustained a serious facial injury while playing in a challenge match for the Westmeath seniors in February.

Pat L’estrange (Milltown)
Pat, who passed away after a brief illness last August, is remembered by the older generation in Milltown for his generosity in providing a pitch for the club when it reformed in the early 1950s.
When “L’estrange’s Field” came into use, the county board recognised it as an ideal venue for hosting important games. Indeed, it was the setting for many a battle between teams from Empor, Sonna, Walshestown, Moyvore, Ballynacargy and, of course, Milltown.
A number of important championship matches took place at the venue and the lines of bicycles going up the laneway to the field is still fondly recalled by locals. The field also staged the annual parish sports day on a number of occasions.
Though he never considered himself a footballer, Pat willingly stepped into the breach when Milltown found themselves short a player, usually lining out either in goal or at full forward.
A widely respected figure in the farming community, Pat was highly involved in the local community. He acted as a doorman at many Ceiles which the club held during the 1960s, a role he also fulfilled at GAA functions.

Matt Farrelly (Ringtown)
Born in 1903 and just short of his 100th birthday when he died on September 4 last, Matt was a hugely respected figure in Whitehall. His hurling skills first came to notice with Castlepollard in the 1920s. With the reformation of the Ringtown club in the 1930s, he played out the remainder of his hurling career with them.
At his removal and funeral, his coffin was fittingly draped with the jerseys of both clubs.

Colum Heavey (Athlone)
Colum was a lifelong supporter of Athlone and Westmeath teams. He was a member of the Athlone minor board committee for many years and acted as a senior team selector during the 1980s. He was also involved in the planning and construction of the Pairc Chiarain clubhouse and the adjoining tennis court and pitch and putt course.
Dermot McCabe (Castlepollard)
Dermot was a prominent member of Castlepollard underage teams in the early 1950s and went on to play for the club in the 1958 senior county final. He was also a noted athlete and was on the local primary school team that brought the Brother Hogan Cup to Castlepollard.

Tom Noonan (Dalystown)
Born in Dalystown, Tom attended St. Mary’s CBS in Mullingar where his football skills first came to notice. He later played football for Dalystown and Tyrrellspass.
He moved with his family to Dublin in 1962, but despite this, always maintained an interest in Westmeath GAA.

Moira Bardon (The Downs)
Moira, who died on December 21 last after a long illness, had been a loyal member of The Downs club since settling in the area 30 years ago. She was always on hand to organise a team for Scór and had been treasurer of The Downs Community Games for 25 years.
Moira was immensely proud of her adopted parish and had her hospital room decorated in black and amber in a show of support for The Downs in last year’s county final. Needless to say, the visit of the Flanagan Cup to her bedside brought a wide smile to her face.

Sean Coleman (Castlepollard)
Sean’s death, following a tragic accident last February, plunged the town of Castlepollard into mourning. He was a great hurling supporter and won medals at National School and under 14 level with ‘Pollard.

Brigid Davitt (Ringtown)
Brigid, who died unexpectedly last July, was a member of well-known GAA family. Her brother Liam is currently chairman of the Westmeath hurling board and was an accomplished hurler with Castlepollard and Ringtown in his younger days. Another brother, Tom, won senior championship medals with Ringtown in 1980 and ‘87.
Two of Brigid’s nephews are well-known to Westmeath GAA followers. Aidan Davitt is vice-chairman of the hurling board, while James has been a regular at corner back on the Westmeath football team this year.

Alva Keegan (Tyrrellspass)
A native of Mount Bolus, Co. Offaly, Alva - who died in a car accident last July - came to Tyrrellspass following her marriage to Peter Keegan in the 1970s and quickly became an integral part of life in the village. She supported many organisations in Tyrrellspass, including the award-winning Tidy Towns committee, the gardening club, the drama group, the local choir and the GAA.

Ned Reilly (St. Loman’s)
Ned was one of Westmeath GAA’s great characters. He joined the St. Loman’s club in the 1950s, bringing with him vast experience gained at club and county level in his native Longford.
In the early 1960s, Ned took over the training of the St. Loman’s team and delivered two senior championships within a short space of time. Under his guidance, the Mullingar club won every honour available to them and, indeed, they became a household name throughout Leinster.
Ned later trained the Westmeath senior team, while his talents also saw him operate as a county selector and a county board representative. He was also a respected referee, officiating at both club and county level. Away from the field of play, he performed a significant role in helping St. Loman’s to purchase their own grounds.
Ned’s vast contribution to St. Loman’s was fittingly recognised in 1990 when he received a Special Merit award from the club.
Daniel Mulligan (Rickardstown)

Danny was a stalwart of the old Rickardstown club, winning senior championship medals in 1954, ‘59 and ‘63, Feis Cup medals in 1953, ‘54, ‘55, ‘56, ‘57 and ‘58 as well a senior league medal in ‘57.
Following the demise of Rickardstown in 1968, he played out the remainder of his career with Delvin and was a member of the team which lost the 1969 county final to Clonkill.
He came out of retirement in 1973 to play with Lough Lene Gaels in an over 40s tournament which took place at Cusack Park.
Paddy Tuite (Rickardstown)
Paddy played hurling with Rickardstown before emigrating to England in the mid-1960s. He returned to live in Collinstown in the mid-1990s.

Margaret Burke (Ringtown)
Margaret, who was a native of Louisburgh, Co. Mayo, came to live in Kiltoom in the 1950s with her husband Paddy and was a great supporter of Ringtown. Her four sons, John, Walter, Padraic and Thady, have been leading lights in the club since its reformation in 1973.Noel Maher (Tyrrellspass and St. Brigid’s)
Noel, whose sudden death occurred on March 28, was a loyal servant of the Tyrrellspass and St. Brigid’s clubs, representing both with distinction. He was centre forward on the Tyrrellspass team which won the junior football championship in 1973 and also figured prominently in the 1975 intermediate final when the ‘Tidy Town’ lost out to St. Malachy’s.
Prior to that, he won an under 21 championship medal when Tyrrellspass combined with neighbours St. Mary’s. He also wore the county jersey at under 21 level and garnered an All-Ireland inter-firms championship medal with Bord na Mona.
Noel was also a talented hurler and, along with his brothers Liam and Cor, helped St. Brigid’s to many successes. He was a fervent supporter of Westmeath teams and indeed was in attendance in Newbridge, the day before his untimely death, supporting the Westmeath under 21s against Kildare

Josie Gavin (St. Brigid’s)
Josie was a great GAA supporter and took a very active part in the running of the St. Brigid’s hurling club for many years. Along with her husband Paddy, she travelled the length and breadth of the country supporting Westmeath teams.
Her sons Ger, Ray, Padraig, Aidan, Martin and Noel all played hurling for St. Brigid’s.