Westmeath Obituaries 2006/2007

Paddy Lennon
(Tang and Maryland):
Paddy, who passed away on Easter Sunday, was an outstanding player for Tang, Maryland and Westmeath. A top defender, his career with Westmeath included a Leinster junior final against Wexford in 1963 and an O’Byrne Cup final victory over Carlow in 1964. Paddy played inter-county football from 1963-67 and played alongside many great players, including TJ Finneran, Mick Carley, Tommy Dolan, Pat Buckley and Georgie Keane.
In a career spanning 25 years, Paddy won a minor championship with St. Martin’s in 1958, a junior championship and senior league with Maryland in 1963 and ’66 respectively. He also captained the 1966 Maryland team that was beaten in the senior championship final by Mullingar Shamrocks.
Following the formation of a junior team in Tang, Paddy transferred to them in 1969. After losing the junior championship semi-final in 1970, Tang beat Athlone in the following year’s decider and thus Paddy secured his second junior medal. In 1973, Tang beat Caulry to capture their first intermediate title and two years later, Paddy retired from the game.
His children have inherited his passion for football and his son Thomas is currently chairman of the Tang club.

Darren Price (The Downs and Cullion):
18-year-old Darren was regarded as one of Westmeath football’s brightest prospects, and his death following a tragic road accident in March plunged the county into mourning. A first year civil engineering student in Athlone IT, Darren played minor football for Westmeath for two years, and poignantly, had lined out at corner back in a Leinster minor football championship game against Kilkenny just five days before his life was taken from him. As a mark of respect, the Westmeath minor management decided to retire the number two jersey for the rest of their championship campaign.
“Darren was a cult hero among young people in our area. He had already represented our club The Downs at senior level, as well as being a Westmeath minor player for two years in-a-row,” said Westmeath GAA PRO and The Downs club official Patrick Doherty.
Darren was expected to figure prominently for The Downs in 2006, having won a senior championship medal with them as a panel member in 2005. He also played hurling with Cullion and was an accomplished soccer and basketball player. Three years ago, he was honoured with a place on the Irish Schools’ basketball team after excelling in the colours of his school team, St. Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge.

Joe Fox (Rosemount):
94-year-old Joe was widely regarded as Westmeath’s greatest and longest-serving GAA supporter. He followed the county’s fortunes for over 80 years and witnessed all of Westmeath’s most significant successes, including the All-Ireland junior football and hurling championship wins of 1929 and ’38 respectively.
Undoubtedly his proudest moment, however, came three years ago when Westmeath finally captured the Leinster senior football title. He was also extremely proud of the All-Ireland minor and under 21 triumphs of 1995 and ’99. He witnessed the decades of defeat too, and was able to remember details of games played many years earlier when anyone sat down to discuss football with him.
Joe was also a great Rosemount supporter and when outgoing GAA president Sean Kelly visited the club a few months before his death, Joe was one of those he met and also honoured.
Joe’s interests weren’t just confined to Westmeath and Rosemount. Indeed, the first game he ever attended in Croke Park was the 1929 All-Ireland football final between Kildare and Kerry when he watched the game from the sideline. The humble bicycle was his mode of transport in those days and he regularly cycled to Thurles to attend Munster hurling finals as well.
Joe had forthright views on football, and regarded Frank McGuinness (Kilbeggan), Andy Dunne (Kinnegad), both from the 1929 team, Mick Carley (The Downs and Tyrrellspass), Georgie Keane (Rosemount) and current star Dessie Dolan as his five best ever Westmeath footballers.
Despite his huge age, Joe was to be seen at virtually every game involving the Westmeath footballers until last year and was usually accompanied by his son Dermot, who was the first chairman of the Westmeath Supporters Club, and his great friend Mick McCauley from Moyvoughley.

Mick Maher (Ballynacargy):
A great Ballynacargy and Westmeath supporter, Mick died following a long illness at his home on August 14 last. He played football for Ballynacargy in his younger years and would often share stories about different matches. He loved Gaelic games, and delighted in the triumphs of his club and county. He attended games involving Westmeath all over Ireland, and usually travelled with Willie Penrose TD, Harry Farrell, Leo Farrell and the late Denis Moran.
Horse racing and darts were among Mick’s other sporting interests. His son Damian has inherited his passion for Gaelic games, being GAA correspondent for the Westmeath Topic and a well-known football referee.

Bill Tighe (Mullingar Shamrocks):
Bill was honorary president of Mullingar Shamrocks at the time of his unexpected passing. He was a lifelong member of the club and was one of the driving forces behind the old Street League that produced so many great players down the years.
Bill also played a leading role in the development of the Shamrocks’ new clubhouse, which was officially opened in 2002. He rarely missed a Shamrocks match and usually watched the games in the company of his great friends Tommy Lennon and Tommy Gilhooley. His presence and sense of fun will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Joseph Barden (Mullingar):
A native of Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Joe came to Mullingar as a young member of the Defence Forces after serving at The Curragh up to the mid-1940s. For a number of years, he played hurling with the Pearses club which was the forerunner to St. Oliver Plunkett’s. He also lined out for various Army teams and won two All-Army medals in Tug O War.
A lifelong Kilkenny hurling fan, Joe attended All-Ireland finals from his teenage years, and despite his failing health, was greatly pleased by the county’s 2006 All-Ireland senior and under 21 victories.

Mick Sheridan (Tyrrellspass):
Mick was a keen GAA supporter and was father of well-known referee and Westmeath minor board chairman Sean Sheridan.

Paul Daly (St. Oliver Plunkett’s and Mullingar Shamrocks):
Aged just 27, Paul’s tragic death following a road accident in November caused widespread shock throughout the GAA community. He was a member of both the St. Oliver Plunkett’s and Mullingar Shamrocks clubs, but hurling was his first love.
Paul, or ‘Podger’ as he was known to his friends, played on the Plunkett’s team that reached the senior hurling championship semi-final for the first time last year. Hailing from a highly-respected family in Mullingar, he was a huge presence in the Plunkett’s dressing room, and one of his great ambitions was to win the Examiner Cup with his beloved club. Paul also excelled in athletics and soccer.

Billy Hynes (Castlepollard):
Billy died in Bedfordshire, England, but never lost touch with his home town of Castlepollard. In his younger years, he was an outstanding hurler and was a key member of the first ‘Pollard team to win a minor championship in 1956, beating a star-studded Castletown-Geoghegan in the final. That Castletown team featured many of the famous three-in-a-row team of 1956-58.
Castletown defeated ‘Pollard in the 1958 senior final with Billy lining out at wing back for the blue and golds. He played his last game for the club in August 1959 when he partnered Donie Egan at midfield in a narrow championship semi-final loss to Castletown. A short time later, he emigrated to England where he remained until the time of his death.
In more recent times, Billy returned to Castlepollard every summer when he spent many a day with his former team-mate Paddy McCabe. He followed the fortunes of the club closely and was thrilled to witness their championship triumph in their centenary year of 2003. He attended the 2005 drawn final, but had to go back to England for the replay.
Billy was due to return home last year for the launch of the book “Hurling in Castlepollard” and to receive his Golden Jubilee award with other surviving memories of the 1956 minor team. Sadly, he was not well enough to travel, but on a happier note, he later received his award and a copy of the book from his 1956 team-mate Sean Cunningham.

Tommy Fee
(Multyfarnham and Mullingar):
Tommy will always hold a special place in the annals of Multyfarnham GAA after captaining them to their only junior football championship success in 1956. When Multy opened their new pitch a few years ago, Tommy was honoured to be asked to perform the official ceremony.
For over a quarter of a century, Tommy ran a household goods and furniture shop at Mount Street in Mullingar. He was an avid supporter of Mullingar Shamrocks, with whom his son Daithi won county championship medals in the 1990s. Daithi has also fulfilled the role of team coordinator with various Westmeath underage sides.

Niall Keegan
(The Downs and Clonkill):
The Downs club was dealt a second hammer blow in a matter of months when news spread of Niall’s death following a tragic drowning accident at Lough Owel. A few weeks short of his 16th birthday, Niall was one of the most talented underage GAA players in the county and played football with The Downs and hurling with Clonkill.
He was a member of last year’s county under 16 football and hurling sides, and in 2005, helped Clonkill to win under 16 and minor championships. In the weeks prior to his death, he has lined out at half forward on the Westmeath under 16 football team in their wins over Cavan and Meath in the Gerry Reilly Cup in Oldcastle. Westmeath’s games against Dublin and Roscommon in the Gerry Reilly and Fr Manning Cups were postponed as a mark of respect.
Niall’s death was preceded by that of fellow The Downs clubman Darren Price, who lost his life in a road accident.

Fr Aidan Fox
(Kilbeggan and Multyfarnham):
Fr Aidan’s death, at the relatively young age of 60, stunned the people of his native Kilbeggan and Multyfarnham, where he had served as parish priest. He was well known throughout the county for his involvement in Westmeath GAA and Kilbeggan Racecourse, and he is well remembered throughout the diocese for his participation in the annual Meath Diocesan Pilgrimages to Lourdes.
He was deeply involved in the GAA, and served as vice-chairman of the Westmeath county board from 1972 to ’78. Paying tribute to him, Westmeath GAA chairman Seamus Whelan said:
“Fr Fox was a formidable figure at Cusack Park. He was a valuable member of the GAA executive and made a solid contribution to Gaelic games in the county.”

Noreen Garry
(Mullingar Shamrocks):
A native of Galway, Noreen came to live in Mullingar many years ago and her death following a tragic road accident last June caused deep shock in the town. Noreen was deeply involved with Mullingar Shamrocks and it’s widely acknowledged that she was one of the most efficient secretaries the club has ever had.
Even after stepping down as secretary, Noreen still took an active interest in everything in the club and attended virtually every senior game. She took great pride in her club, especially when her children were playing. One of her proudest moments was seeing her grandson, Tye Adamson, don the green jersey for the first time and he looks set to maintain the family’s links with the club for many years to come.

Fr William Behan
(Kilcormac and Kilbeggan):
Fr William (Billy) Behan served as curate in Kilbeggan between 1980 and ’85, during which time he was actively involved with the local GAA club. A native of Kilcormac, he was educated at St. Finian’s College, Mullingar and the Irish College in Rome where he was ordained in 1967.
He served in Summerhill parish for eight years before he came to Kilbeggan, and spent another eight years in Kentstown/Beauparc. He was parish priest in Oristown from 1993 until the time of his death.
Fr Behan was a passionate GAA man and was chairman of Summerhill when they won Meath and Leinster club championship honours in the mid-1970s. He became a great friend of Summerhill and Meath star Mattie Kerrigan, and is believed to have played a part in Kerrigan taking over the Westmeath senior footballers in 1992.
Fr Behan was elected honorary president of Wolfe Tones in recent years and attended the celebration dinner when the Oristown-based club won the Meath SFC title for the first time last year.

Michael Turley (Athlone):
All activities in the Athlone club were ceased for a period in March when news broke of Michael’s untimely death. Michael had been an active member of the club’s minor board in recent years along with his wife Eileen. Their son ‘Mossie’ is a key member of the Athlone senior side and played on the 2005 under 21 championship winning team.

Pauline McHugh (Ballinagore):
Pauline was involved in many activities in Ballinagore, including the Tidy Towns Committee and the GAA club. Along with her husband PC, she ran the local grocery shop for many years and their sons Breffni, Conor and Darren have all played for Ballinagore.

Conor Owens (Clonkill):
Conor was a very popular and likeable young man whose death following a tragic accident caused widespread grief and shock. He played underage hurling with Clonkill, a club which the Owens family has had a long association with.

Tommy Monaghan
(Kinnegad and St. Loman’s):
Tommy’s place in the annals of Westmeath GAA was assured after he was selected at centre half forward on the Westmeath Topic’s Football Team of the Millennium in 2001. He was, without doubt, one of the best forwards ever to represent the county and the fact that he was chosen for Leinster in 1959 and ’60 is an indication of his prowess in the province during that period.
A native of Kinnegad, Tommy’s unexpected death on September 21 last at the age of 73 was a cause of great sadness in Westmeath GAA circles. Whether playing with Westmeath, Kinnegad or Mental Hospital (now St. Loman’s), he more often than not finished as top scorer.
In one of his first games for Westmeath, he scored 3-3 in a 5-5 to 2-2 National League win over Sligo in December 1954. He was top scorer in each of Westmeath’s next five league campaigns, racking up an impressive total of 14-66.
In his first championship campaign in 1955, Tommy was part of the team that lost to Meath by a single point in the Leinster semi-final at Croke Park. Although he played in six county senior championship finals – twice with Kinnegad and then with Mental Hospital – it wasn’t until 1961 that he finally got his hands on a winners’ medal. He was on the winning Mental Hospital panel again in 1963, though not playing.
At his funeral, members of the St. Loman’s GAA club – many of them former colleagues – formed a guard of honour as they paid their last respects to a true footballing legend.

Seamus O Riain (Tipperary):
Former GAA president Seamus, who held office from 1967 to ’70, was father of Garrycastle chairman Dermot Ryan. A native of Moneygall, Co. Tipperary, he played junior football and hurling with the Premier County before going on to have a long and successful career in GAA administration at club, county, provincial and ultimately national level.
Seamus’s love of Gaelic games has been carried on by his family. His grandsons Ciaran and Donal have won Westmeath SFC medals with Garrycastle, while another of his grandsons is Dublin football star Shane Ryan.

Grainne Keague (Ringtown):
Coole woman Grainne died following a long illness on September 23. She had a strong association with Ringtown and, in her youth, was a member of the club’s Ballad Groups in the Scor na nOg competitions.

Jack McCormack (Kilbeggan):
Jack was an outstanding sportsman, excelling in football, hurling and Pitch and Putt. His remarkable sporting life began in Kilbeggan Boys’ National School in 1954 when he captained the school team to a Cumann na mBunscol football final victory over Duleek.
For Jack, that win was the springboard for many a triumph in the years that followed. In 1957, he won county under 17 football and intermediate hurling championship medals with Kilbeggan. The following year, he helped Kilbeggan to a 5-4 to 0-1 victory over Pearses of Mullingar in the junior hurling championship decider.
1959 was his most successful year when he played on the Kilbeggan junior football and hurling teams that both achieved championship honours. When his GAA career came to an end, he took up Pitch and Putt and, along with his wife Rose, went on to become one of the most successful husband and wife teams in the sport.
In 1985, they won the All-Ireland Mixed Foursome Strokeplay championship, a glorious feat which the couple repeated in 1990. His four sons Paul, Alan, Kenneth and Matthew all inherited his love for the GAA. Youngest son Matthew was Kilbeggan’s only representative on the 1995 All-Ireland winning Westmeath minor panel, while Alan is a prominent football referee and took charge of last year’s intermediate final between Bunbrosna and Maryland.

Oliver Slevin (Clonkill):
Ollie played all grades of hurling with Clonkill and was a key member of the 1969 senior championship winning side. In later years, he was involved with work on the club’s grounds in Loughegar and his love of hurling was reflected in his meticulous preparation of the pitch for games.

Molly Gorry (Kilbeggan):
Aged 90, Molly loved the GAA and her sons Mick, Eamonn and John Joe all played for Kilbeggan in their younger years. Molly’s grandsons Keith and Aidan have been among Kilbeggan’s best players over the past decade with Aidan producing a man of the match performance in the 2000 intermediate final victory over Ballymore.
Both Keith and Aidan have represented Westmeath at various levels and Keith, who also hurls with Castletown-Geoghegan, has served as Kilbeggan club secretary for the past two years.

Bernie Davis (Ringtown):
The Ringtown club mourned the passing of former senior team goalkeeper Bernie in December. A native of Delvin, he transferred to Ringtown in 1977 after taking up residence in Kiltoom. He was Ringtown’s first choice goalkeeper for three years and in later years, his sons all became prominent underage players with the club.

Padraig Hanevy (Caulry):
Padraig, who died on December 19, was a member of well respected family in the Mount Temple/Baylin area which has had close links with the Caulry club down through the years.

Bruno Gaffney (Castlepollard):
Bruno was a great hurling enthusiast and was a lifelong supporter of the Castlepollard team. Castlepollard provided a guard of honour at his funeral in recognition of his lifelong support for the club.

Noel Bardon (Crookedwood):
Noel had a great passion for Crookedwood hurling club, stretching back to his own playing days when he helped the ‘Wood to win a junior championship in 1956. He rarely ever missed a game involving the club, and it wasn’t unusual for him to be at the match venue before many of the players, such was his enthusiasm for the game.
He was thrilled with the ‘Wood’s intermediate championship success in 2005 and was equally delighted when they preserved their senior status last year.

John Faulker (Milltownpass):
John moved to Dublin as a young man, but he never lost touch with his native Milltownpass or Westmeath GAA for that matter. In his younger days, he played with the local GAA club Bellfield. He attended numerous matches involving Westmeath, Rochfortbridge and Milltownpass over the years. When Rochfortbridge last won the senior football championship in 1962, his three nephews Paddy, Joe and the late Jack O’Brien were all playing. He also followed Milltownpass when another of his nephews, James Faulkner, helped them to win junior and intermediate championships.
John was a founder member of the Westmeath Men’s Association in Dublin, and attended all of their meetings.

Anne Smyth (Lough Lene Gaels):
Formerly principal of St. Mary’s National School, Collinstown, Anne was deeply involved with the local camogie club. When the club was formed in 1986, she was elected as its first secretary and made a major contribution to its success in the intervening years.
Anne also played in goal for the club, and was an inspirational figure in their march to the 1988 junior ‘B’ camogie final. In 1992, Anne jointly-managed the under 12 ‘B’ championship winning team along with Sally Conaty. Her love for the small ball game was hardly surprising given that her brothers Noel, Jim and Brendan Fitzsimons were all prominent members of the great Brownstown team of the 1970s and 1980s.

Paddy Murphy
(Tubberclair and Athlone):
Paddy enjoyed a lifelong association with the GAA as a player, referee and team mentor. Born in Walderstown, he began his football career with Tubberclair and played in the legendary 1967 junior final against Ballynacargy.
The first game was drawn. At the end of the second, Ballynacargy were awarded a late free and some of the Tubberclair players, including Paddy, climbed up onto the crossbar. The referee abandoned the game for fear somebody would get hurt. A second replay was eventually ordered with Tubberclair emerging victorious.
Paddy then went on to play for Athlone, and by the time he brought the curtain down on his playing career in 1971, he was the proud holder of seven championship medals. He later became a prominent referee and selector with Athlone. He was also manager of the Pairc Chiarain clubhouse for a period of time.

Pauline Muldoon (Caulry):
Pauline’s family has been involved with Caulry over a long number of years and is still involved to this day.

Eamonn Moore (Mullingar):
Hailing from the North Galway football stronghold of Dunmore, Eamonn moved to Tudenham outside Mullingar in 1964. His family has been deeply involved in the sporting life of Westmeath over a long number of years. Ned had the distinction of captaining Mullingar Shamrocks to four successive senior football championships between 1992 and ’95, and is currently in charge of the club’s senior team.
Another son, Jim, is a former player with The Downs and is involved with the Tara club in London, from where he runs the successful construction firm, Scanmoor. John is also based in London, but was involved in the GAA in New York over many years. And Martin is chairman of Mullingar Town soccer club.

Ned Martin (Ballymore):
Ballymore footballing legend Ned Martin was a member of the famous Westmeath minor team that delivered a first Leinster title to the county in 1939. After that success, he graduated to the Westmeath junior team and was a member of the Westmeath senior team that lost the 1949 Leinster final to Meath.
Ned began his playing career with Ballymore, but transferred to top senior side Rosemount in 1939 and helped them win senior championships in 1940 and ’41. He returned to play with his home club in 1950 and played in goal when they won the junior championship in 1960.

Patricia Smyth (Delvin):
21-year-old nurse Trisha, who died following a road accident, was one of Westmeath’s most talented sportswomen, excelling in both camogie and ladies football. Daughter of former Brownstown hurling goalkeeper Kyran, she played camogie from a young age with her native Delvin and also played ladies football with Rochfortbridge. Her talents saw her selected on both the Westmeath camogie and ladies football teams on many an occasion.
Poignantly, Patricia played her last camogie game for Westmeath against Meath in the Leinster junior championship on August 3 – just six days before her tragic death. Although Meath won that game, the Delvin girl was effective in defence for the Lake County.
Patricia was part of an up-and-coming Delvin team that won the senior ‘B’ camogie championship in 2005, and her passing leaves a massive void in the club,

George Smyth (Rosemount and Moate):
In his 100th year, George lived in Moate since 1952 but never lost touch with his beloved Rosemount. Along with his brother Johnny, he initiated the setting up of Rosemount GAA club in 1924. He was the club’s first secretary and held the position for three years.
In 1927 at the age of 21, George sustained a serious leg injury in an accident which resulted in him spending six months in Mullingar Hospital. Johnny, however, enjoyed a successful playing career and after helping Rosemount win their first junior championship in 1928, played on the Westmeath team that won the All-Ireland junior football title in 1929.

Mary McMenamin (Caulry):
Mary was the mother of Paddy McMenamin, who has served as Caulry club chairman for the past few years.

Josie Daly (Ballinagore):
Josie’s death following a road accident in Wicklow in April has left a big void in the Ballinagore community. Throughout her life, she supported Ballinagore GAA and was thrilled when they won the Leinster junior club championship in 2005. Along with her late husband, Paddy, she provided a minibus service and many a budding young footballer and hurler was ferried to and from games through their generosity over the years. During those times, she had also been known to officiate as an umpire at underage games.

Martin Geraghty (Mullingar):
Just short of his 29th birthday, Martin died in tragic circumstances on March 26. Known to his friends as ‘Mo’, he was a keen GAA supporter and played hurling with St. Oliver Plunkett’s in his youth.

Darragh Farrelly (Clonmellon):
Nine-year-old Darragh, who died after a long battle with illness, was an avid football and hurling fan. He was one of Westmeath’s most enthusiast young supporters, and was very proud when he led the county senior hurlers out onto the Cusack Park pitch for the Walsh Cup clash with Down in January 2006.
Later that month, he enjoyed an action-packed day when he met Cork hurling star Sean Og O hAilpin, Dublin footballer Ciaran Whelan and a host of Westmeath senior footballers and hurlers at a special event organised by the Brownstown and St. Paul’s hurling clubs in conjunction with the local business community in Clonmellon.

Mary Keegan (Castletown-Finea):
Mary was a daughter of well-known Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall clubman John Flynn. Based in Dublin for many years, John was a prominent member of the Castletown-Finea team in the 1960s and is currently honorary president of the club.

Frank Starken (Athlone):
Frank passed away peacefully in August, just three months after he received the Athlone Rehab Person of the Year award for his massive contribution to the GAA in the town. He was a legendary figure in Athlone GAA and was a guiding influence in the careers of many young footballers in the town.
A native of Ferbane, Frank played senior football for Offaly for three years in the 1950s and was a team selector when the Faithful County lost the 1961 All-Ireland final to Down. The final was watched by over 90,000 spectators which was the biggest ever attendance in the history of the GAA.
The same year Frank moved to Athlone and joined the local GAA club in ’62. He won a senior championship medal with the Shannonsiders in 1965 and became involved with the club in an administrative capacity before retiring from playing in 1971.
A lifelong pioneer, he was a driving force behind the Athlone GAA lotto – the first of its kind in Ireland – and he also founded the Pitch and Putt club adjacent to Pairc Chiarain as a fundraiser of Athlone GAA.
“He was the epitome of a good club man,” Athlone GAA chairman Niall Lynch said.
“He gave fantastic service as a player and served in many positions in the club. When he was chairman of the minor board in the mid-1990s, he regenerated the underage structure in the club.”

Marita Dooley-Stone (Tang):
Tang woman Marita taught in Ardnagrath National School for close to 20 years, having served as vice-principal for much of that time. She had a great interest in sport and, in particular, the training of the school football teams for both the boys and the girls.

Sheila McGowan (Ballymahon):
Sheila was mother of former Westmeath minor and under 21 football manager Ambrose McGowan. Ambrose, who is principal of Mount Temple National School, guided Westmeath to a famous Leinster minor football final victory over Dublin in 2000 and has trained numerous teams down the years, including Maryland, Dromard, Ballymahon and the Longford under 16s.

Martin Griffith (Clonkill):
Martin died following a tragic drowning accident while out duck shooting on Lough Lene with his friends Christy Scally and county hurling star Andrew Mitchell. Martin did not play hurling, but was a great supporter of the game nonetheless. He attended almost every game that Clonkill played and was never shy to take up a linesman’s or an umpire’s flag when the need arose.

Christy Smyth (Killucan):
Christy’s passing at the age of 89 marked the end of an era for the GAA in Killucan. The owner of a successful hardware business in the village, he was one of the county’s most prominent dual players during the late 1930s and early 1940s, earning a reputation as both a skilful and physically strong performer.
He played hurling for Raharney and Westmeath, participating in a senior hurling semi-final on September 3, 1939 – the day World War II broke out. A Raharney team featuring three Raleigh brothers played the eventual county champions Clonkill that day, only to succumb to a late rally inspired by the famous Clonkill and Westmeath star Tod Nugent.
Christy was a member of the Westmeath minor football team that contested the Leinster final against Louth in Kells on June 20, 1935. Westmeath lost that game by 1-5 to 2-5, but Christy put that disappointment behind him when helping Coralstown to win a senior football championship two years later.
In later years, he trained the Killucan footballers and often collected players from their homes in his company van to bring them to matches. It is said that any player without the proper gear or boots would be generously provided for from Christy’s drapery business.
Even though Christy was a successful businessman, the GAA always took precedence over everything else, and he instilled his passion for the games in his six sons. Famously, the six Smyth brothers – Ray, Desmond, Barry, Donie, Gerard and Peter – reached the All-Ireland five-a-side football final in the late 1970s, only to lose by two points to the renowned O’Connor brothers from Walsh Island in Offaly.
In recognition of his vast contribution to the GAA in Westmeath, Christy was honoured at a reception in the Dunner Arms in Kinnegad in the 1980s, along with fellow Killucan man Andy Carr, as the last two surviving members of the 1937 Coralstown senior football championship winning team.
Christy’s enduring sporting legacy still resonates to this day, as his eldest son Ray coached The Downs to senior football championship wins in 2003 and 2005, while his grandson John is an important member of the Westmeath senior football team.