OBITUARIES
FRIENDS WE LOST CYRIL McLAVIN (DYSART) Dysart native Cyril tragically lost his life when the plane he was flying crashed in Long Island, New York on October 20 last. His flying companion Andrew Messana also died in the crash. The 51year-old learned to fly in Ireland before moving to the US in the early 1980s. He hailed from a well-known GAA family with his brother Fabian – who is a mechanic in Mullingar – being a star dual player with the St. Malachy’s footballers and Castletown-Geoghegan hurlers in the 1980s. Cyril’s father Sonny is a former referee, and he played GAA himself before emigrating. PETER CURRAN (CASTLEPOLLARD) A former Castlepollard hurler, Peter died in his adopted Carlow last September. He was married to Jacqueline and had three children – Katie, Jonathan and Evan. COLM GEOGHEGAN SNR (CASTLETOWN-GEOGHEGAN) Colm, who passed to his eternal reward in September, was the father of Colm Jnr and Alo Geoghegan, who have had a long involvement with the St. Malachy’s and Castletown-Geoghegan clubs. Colm Jnr doubled up as secretary of both clubs last year, and played on the St. Malachy’s team that won the intermediate championship in 2001. He was also honoured with the Clubman of the Year award in 2008. Alo was St. Malachy’s treasurer last year, having previously served as chairman from 2009 to 2012. He also captained the club’s second team in 2012. MARIE GEOGHEGAN (CASTLETOWN-GEOGHEGAN) The Geoghegan family were dealt a second devastating blow when Marie passed away two months after the death of her husband, Colm. Marie, whose maiden name was Clavin, reared eight children – sons Colm Jnr, Thomas, Larry, Alo, Matthew, Kedagh and daughters Mary and Therese. DAVY ALLEN (ATHLONE) A member of the Defence Forces and one of Athlone’s best-known GAA families, Davy’s death at the age of just 43 in February 2012 shocked and
saddened all who knew him. Along with his brothers Philip and Kevin, he was a stalwart of the club, having worn the blue and white jersey with pride and distinction at every level. The highlight of his long playing career, which only ended in 2011, came in 1998 when he was a member of Athlone’s senior championship winning panel. His daughter Kayleigh was mascot for the final against Coralstown/Kinnegad, while Philip lined out at wing back. In more recent times, Davy – who was married to Tara and was dad to Kayleigh and Shane – immersed himself in Athlone’s underage scene. His finest hour as an underage mentor came in October 2011 when the U14 team he had coached for the previous six years captured a first championship in the grade for Athlone in 22 years. The same team also won the Feile earlier that year. Athlone GAA staged the inaugural Davy Allen Memorial U15 Tournament last year and fittingly, the team he had worked so tirelessly with were the first winners, defeating St. Brigid’s (Kiltoom) in the final. DOLORES McCORMACK (DELVIN) Dolores’ tragic death following a road accident in August caused widespread shock and sadness. Her young daughter Bronagh Flynn was also seriously injured in the accident, which occurred between Delvin and Mullingar, but thankfully has since made a full recovery. Dolores was immensely proud of her two girls, Katie and Bronagh, who are both talented camogie players. Along with her partner Pat Flynn, she gave them tremendous encouragement and was a familiar face along the sideline at games in which they were involved. TOMMY BURKE (MILLTOWNPASS) Born in Mayo, Tommy was a young lad when he moved to Enniscoffey with his parents and siblings where they obtained a farm. He married Clonkill woman Julie in 1986 and they had four children – Tommy Jnr, Teresa, Claire and Eva. He took an interest in all sports, in particular horse racing and GAA. He was an uncle of former Milltownpass footballer Kevin Burke, who was midfield on the Westmeath team that won the All-Ireland U21 title in
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1999. JOHNNY LYNG (ST. LOMAN’S) The death occurred of former Westmeath football star Johnny Lyng in London on November 16. A native of Kerry where we won juvenile and minor championships, Johnny moved to the Green Road, Mullingar after his father took up a job with CIE. Johnny later followed in his footsteps, moving to England and working with British Rail for much of his life. Johnny joined the old Mullingar club in 1944 and lined out at left corner back on the side that defeated Kinnegad by 3-7 to 2-8 in the county senior football final that year. The Mullingar team was managed by Brother Hogan of St. Mary’s CBS, who was a brother of Michael Hogan, the Tipperary footballer who was shot dead in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday and whom the Hogan Stand is named after. The Tralee native subsequently joined St. Loman’s (then known as Mental Hospital) and was full back on the team that defeated Athlone by 0-5 to 0-1 to claim the club’s first senior football championship in 1948. The following year, Mental Hospital surrendered their title to Athlone, while there was further disappointment for Johnny when he wore the number four jersey in Westmeath’s defeat to Meath in the Leinster senior final. He continued to play for club and county until he emigrated to London in the mid1950s. He retained a strong interest in the GAA after that and regularly returned to Mullingar. Aged 87, he is survived by his long-time friend Olive, brother Tommy and sisters Carmel English, Remy Wallace and Anna Connaughton. JOHN DILLON (MOATE) A shopkeeper in Moate for 50 years, John was a great supporter of the local GAA club who formed a guard of honour at his removal last April. Originally from Cadamstown in Co. Offaly, the 92-yearold was the second eldest in a family of 18 children. He married Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon woman Maureen in 1950 and the couple had four children – Noel, Sean, Marie and Triona. KATHLEEN DARCY (HORSELEAP) The Westmeath Scor fraternity was saddened to learn of Kathleen’s sudden